We were guided by my son who took us on the Forest Service Road(via Globe Mountain Road and Brown Mountain Beach) to Wilson’s Creek Bridge and the ghost town of Mortimer N.C., we first stopped just over the scenic old one way bridge and trekwd down to the creek where my son and son in law tried to entice some trout left over from the delayed harvest . It was a beautiful and scenic cool mountain water flowing briskly over smooth river rocks and a great place to stop. Now on another 6 miles up the rock switchback road( 4 wheel drive ) to the head of a trail called “Hunt Fish Trail” which leads you 1 miles straight down to Hunt Fish Falls, a 50 foot beauty. The trail is described as moderate and my son and his wife took our 15 month old granddaughter down in their arms and I would say “it is all you want” in a moderate; remember you have to come back up! The area was not crowded as the drive of one hour up a rock switchback scares away most day hikers. The swimming hole at the bottom had 60 degree chilly clear water and another beautiful 20 foot spillover fall. This is truly a wilderness, with no cell service , when you have made it back up to the small parking area, treat yourself to a cold beer on the tailgate! Then on your drive out be sure to stop at Betsy’s old country store and fly shop; Friday is hot dog day! Shop and order your dogs all the way with a old school bottle of Sundrop or Nehi Orange. Bruce the owner may be there and be prepared to be engaged in a story or two! of course, say hello to Rocky the pure bred Rottweiler . You may want to check out the cabin for rent and the “trout pond”. Also learn the “ghost town history “ of Mortimer an old Cherokee summer hunting grounds and later a logging community destroyed by a flood in 1915. If you are feeling really adventurous , head up to the headwaters trail of Wilson’s Creek which is known as Rough Ridge Trail on the BRP, a popular trail that ends at 5000 feet. We completed that .06 miles up and back the next day so we went from the headwaters to the gorge . Trail is pretty easy, very rocky with awesome overlooks and spectacular views this is a “must do” trail and will take you about 90 minutes up and back.

The dirt roads along Wilson's Creek take you back to a time and place when Sunday afternoons were spent fishing and swimming in the creek. Countless hours have been reinvested into this area to keep it clean, inviting and useful!