Kurt's Hikes: June 22
Kurt at Apple Orchard Falls
The 1.2-mile stretch of the AT on this hike is pretty incidental to the roughly paralleling Apple Orchard and Cornelius Creek trails, both of which spend lots of time running along their namesake streams, and both of which had a nice full flow to them on this day.
At the Apple Orchard Falls viewpoint, the cascade was voluminous enough to make you raise your voice to talk. We ate just above the falls at the second viewpoint, where things were a little quieter.
The Day Hiker tried to talk us into shortcutting things by taking the forest road over to Cornelius Creek, but the summer growth was such that the risks of chiggers 'n' ticks outweighed the additional half mile or so up to the clean, weed-free AT.
The way down the Cornelius Creek Trail was easy and scenic as always, though The Day Hiker, having a bad day, opined it was too rocky.
Apple Orchard Trail-Appalachian Trail-Cornelius Creek loop. 7.3 miles.
How to get there: I-81 Exit 168 onto Va. 614 to FR 52 to parking lot.