It’s one thing to tent camp during winter in North Carolina. It’s another thing when it also rains all day.
(All locations will be linked at the end of this post.)
Rain was not in the initial forecast when I had planned this camping and hiking adventure. The original plan was to hike as much as possible and see so many views along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of western North Carolina. But things don’t always go as planned, do they? Continue reading to see how day two of our three day camping adventure turned out.
Rainy Morning to Rainy Day
We slept in that morning, knowing that it was supposed to rain until noon so there was no need to get up early. The new plan with this rain was to sleep in, then go hiking in the afternoon to see some waterfalls that would certainly be flowing strong from this weather. However, when I woke up, I looked up the weather again to find that it was now going to rain all day. I proceeded to take my time a little more as I wondered what this meant for us. Maybe we could still go see waterfalls, but instead of ones that require a muddy hike, we could stick to the roadside attractions.
Going Nowhere
After discussing the new plan with my adventure buddy, we concluded to give it a try. We made our breakfast and coffee and set out to go see some waterfalls. We both hopped into the car, she started it, and as she tried to drive forward, we both quickly realized that we were not going anywhere. I got out to survey the situation. We had been parked all night on mostly flat ground. But, the ground was fully saturated from weeks of rain and now puddles had formed on the surface. To make matters worse, the ground consisted of only fine clay that when mixed with water, created a fine, pasty mud. It stuck to everything but at the same time, it was extremely slick. The tires didn’t stand a chance at getting traction here.
Getting Out
We took turns, one pushing the car while the other gave it some power. This process was slow moving, but it did the job. After an hour or so we had succeeded in moving the car a good five feet from where it had initially been parked. But then we hit a snag, no, an incline. Although the ground was fairly flat here, there was a slight incline as it lipped up to the road. The asphalt was just out of reach as the car began digging itself deeper instead of forward. I knew it was time to call for help. Between the camp host, the maintenance man, some gravel, some pieces of scrap wood, and a shovel, we finally worked the car out and up onto the road. In total, all of this took three hours of our day.
On the Road Again
Now that it was mid-afternoon, we were antsy to get out and finally explore some. We both wanted something warm to drink so I found a local coffee shop in downtown Waynesville that was actually open on a Sunday. We sat and enjoyed the dry warmth with our coffees while picking out where to go next. I remembered a stretch of road that meets up with the Blue Ridge Parkway that I had wanted to try exploring before. Along it are many waterfalls, some with short hikes and some right beside the road.
Chasing Waterfalls
The drizzly drive took us up a windy, mountain road. Breaks in the trees displayed the surrounding peaks spotted with low cloud cover and the overall dreary grey really set the scene. We arrived at Little Bird Falls…er, where it supposedly flows. But neither of us could see a spot to pull-off the side of the road nor the waterfall itself. So we kept going.
Sunburst Falls
The next waterfall on the list is truly beside the road which made it the perfect stop, Sunburst Falls. There’s room for a few cars at the pull-off and you can easily walk to a great viewing spot behind the guardrail. The road bridges over the tail-end of the falls making for a very picturesque and unique place. We took in the sights, snapped some photos, and ran back to the car once the rain started to fall harder. Once back in the warmth, we set out again to the next waterfall location.
Bubbling Springs Falls
Next along the road is Bubbling Springs Falls. We found the larger pull-off with ease, but once we got out and realized that it had a steep trailhead, we reconsidered. The trail down to the waterfall is steep rocks that go right beneath the guardrail. Under normal circumstances, I don’t think this trek would be too difficult, but after all we had already endured today, we were not up to the challenge. Rain had made the small, rock steps slick, and as we contemplated the climb down, we noticed the clouds starting to set in. I opted instead to capture some dark, foggy photos on the road.
Moody Fog
Typically this would be a dangerous place to stand out in the middle of the road for some photos. But with the weather today, and it being January and cold, hardly anyone was out on this road. We only had one car pass by us the entire time. After taking a few photos we realized it was getting dark so much quicker. We decided to head back out.
In the Clouds
We continued to drive towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. My plan was to make a big, scenic loop of it, back to our campsite. But as we neared the on-ramp, the clouds thickened. I’ve never seen such dense clouds on a roadway before. They hurt the visibility so much that we missed the on-ramp and had to turn around! Once on the Parkway, it continued to darken and thicken. We were driving extremely slow, unable to see even five feet ahead. Finally, we reached Graveyard Fields and had to turn around because the road was barricaded here stating that it was closed.
Finding a Way Out
We carefully turned around and headed back the way we came. The long, slow drive felt like hours as we paced through the clouded darkness. We found the off-ramp and meandered our way back down the road with all the waterfalls. Towards the end of the road, the clouds lifted. Although still drizzly and now pitch-black night, we could see much further down the road.
Eating Dinner
After the adventure we had had today and the fact that it was still cold and rainy out…and dark, we decided to splurge. We treated ourselves to dinner at a local restaurant known for having pizza AND tacos, an unusual combination. We easily found parking in downtown Waynesville once more and walked into the restaurant. The bar was surrounded by locals as we slid into a nearby booth. We ordered a Ceasar Salad and a hand-tossed Meat Pie to share. The food came out quickly, salad first. And most things are made in-house, including the dressing. It was delicious!
Surprise Visitor
Right before our pizza came, a lady at the bar noticed my friend eyeballing the puppy that had just snuck in the front door. Another local had carried him in, hiding him in his jacket. The lady had been holding the puppy and was eager to share him with anyone that took interest. Before we knew it, she was at our table asking if we wanted to hold him. Of course, my friend jumped at the opportunity. I, however, didn’t have an interest at this time. But the lady insisted that I take a turn and I reluctantly held him for a minute. I hate to say it, but that puppy smelled ten times better than I who had been outside in the rain and mud for over the last twenty-four hours.
Back at Camp for the Night
We finished up dinner, with a couple of slices leftover that I gladly took with me for a meal the next day. Safely back at the campground, we decided to stop by the heated bathroom on the way back to our site. From here we could get completely ready for bed before stepping back into the cold, wet campsite we now called home. We slept so much better that night and I credit that to our sophisticated adventure. Instead of staying outside the entire time as temperatures dropped like the night before, we spent our evening hours in a warm restaurant, warm car, and warm bathroom. Never underestimate a good pre-heating of yourself before sleeping in a tent in winter weather.
In Conclusion
Although our second day was quite troublesome, there were still fun moments. And at the end of the day, lessons were learned. Don’t park on these campsites if rain is coming. Pre-warm yourself with good heat sources before bed if you’re winter camping. The Blue Ridge Parkway is partially closed in winter and it might catch you off guard. When after-rain fog starts to set in on top of the Parkway, head down because that means thick clouds are soon to follow. And downtown Waynesville, albeit quaint, has some awesome local businesses.
Watch this day unfold in video form on YouTube. And be sure to check back next week for the final leg of our trip. The best way to not miss it is to join the Exploring Chatt Club. Never miss a new blog post, YouTube video, and more by getting a weekly email updating you on everything new here.
Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
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