October 6, 2024 Patty Quarry, Little River Canyon, DeSoto Falls (AL), Cloudland Canyon Cherokee Falls

 Sunday, October 6

Breakfast tacos this morning and coffee for a lazy start to the day.  It is 64 degrees this morning and pleasantly sunny.

First stop today is at Patty Quarry about 4 miles away in nearby Summerville.  The quarry isn't worked on Sundays, so the owner allows rock hounders to come explore.  Anita has told us about this place.  After signing a waiver that they aren't responsible for injuries, etc., we find a place to park and check it out.  There are about a dozen other folks here by the time we leave.

Nothing too amazing, but some pretty rocks, many with pockets of druzy quartz or interesting layering. Don't have to dig much, as the quarry does that and has a rock crusher, so there are lots of piles of fist-sized rocks, with bigger pieces here and there.  After an hour or so, we have a dozen or so interesting pieces which Greg finds a home for in the Trek.

And we're off, heading west a bit, just over the Alabama border to Little River Canyon National Preserve where we stop at Little River Falls.

At the Visitor's Center, they recommend a scenic drive with several overlooks so we do that.  The Fall colors are just beginning here, so the color is still mostly green, but it is a pretty drive with lots of twists and turns.  A motorcyclist's dream, says Greg.

Next stop is DeSoto Falls, at the far north of the Preserve.  (There is a DeSoto Falls in Georgia too, so I guess he got around quite a bit back in the mid-1500's.)

A little below the main falls was this pretty one!

These mosaic stairs at DeSoto Falls, with a quote from John Muir, were a pretty surprise.

The

 Cloudland Canyon State Park is our next stop, back across the border into Georgia.  We are on Lookout Mountain, which continues north up to Chattanooga.   We decide to stay here tonight and after staking out a site, we then take the waterfall trail to Cherokee Falls.  There are quite a few trails in this park but the sign below clarifies directions - not.

Some of the Falls we visit are quite low this time of year.  There are 200 steps down to Cherokee Falls , and then back up, of course.  (We opt not continue the other  400 steps to Hemlock Falls). 

A few pauses on the way....

Yes, that's Beth about to crushed by a giant boulder - not!

Quite a few people enjoying this spot. It is beautiful.

Back to our campsite in the West Campground, which we were told is quieter because it is more distant from the main hub of trails and the other campground.

After dinner of Jambalya and corn muffins, we spend the evening sorting and reviewing photos and planning for tomorrow.   Lots of neighbors, but the electric and showers are nice.