The trail and the swimming hole underneath the fall are definitely worth visiting.
The trail is situated on road 340, which is worth driving by itself.
Someone has called it a highway of diamonds, and it is true—the side of the road is covered with glass shards from cars' windows. Either vandalism, thievery, or a misplaced sense of independence makes this place hazardous to rental vehicles. If you have someone to drop you off and pick you up, that is probably better, but there was no phone coverage on the trail.
The trail weaves through the mountain stream, and the alternative name is 13 crossings, although I am sure it is always 12 or 14 if counted. You do have a chance to decide which rocks to hop on and whether to cross the stream or not.
The trail was amazing; we did not encounter any biting insects, the scenery was great, and the bamboo grove was a dream come true. This place is for you if you are into meditation or a peaceful picnic.
If I had a day to myself, I would take a hammock, food, and a good book to read and find a quiet place to "hang out."
There must be some forks in the path because we noticed people we had not met at the swimming hole. That said, the path is easy to follow for anyone who is able and willing to hop on river rocks.
The bamboo grove is a meditative setting of my dreams.
This tree is a great place for a picnic.
Wild guava fruit
The southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis, is a small, hairy moth with a wingspan of 1-1.5 inches. It has yellow front wings and creamy yellow hind wings, and its body is covered with thick hair that resembles animal fur. The southern flannel moth has many common names, including puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, fire caterpillar, woolly slug, opossum bug, puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar.
Megalopyge opercularis, is a caterpillar that is considered one of the most toxic in North America and is responsible for hundreds of human envenomations annually. The caterpillar has stinging hairs hidden among tufts of dense, soft hairs. The caterpillar's sting is painful and can cause an allergic reaction. The skin will swell and create a welt that may last for days followed by a persistent rash that may last for weeks. Some victims have said the pain is similar to a broken bone.
The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized heron with a black cap and back, and a white chest and head plumes. It has a thick neck, large flat head, heavy pointed bill, and short legs that barely reach the end of its tail. The black-crowned night heron is most active at night or at dusk, when it can be seen flapping out from daytime roosts to forage in wetlands.
