Just Beyond The Oconee
Press play — and turn up the sound.
Bordering Gorges State Park
An important note: This is a wild, undeveloped forest route—not a maintained hiking trail. The terrain is uneven and can be steep, rocky and slippery, with creek crossings and some scrambling. Good balance, appropriate footwear and reasonable fitness are important.
The Oconee sits on five private wooded acres along the edge of Gorges State Park. From the deck, a private trail winds through the property to an old logging road leading into this quiet, undeveloped side of the park. From there, the route continues through the raw forest to a waterfall, mountain creek and swimming hole. It’s a wonderfully wild little corner of Gorges, just a walk from the house.
Where The Forest Begins
The edge of Gorges State Park is quite literally our backyard. Follow the private trail from the house through the woods, and the state park boundary appears among the rhododendrons — the beginning of a wonderfully wild corner of the mountains.
A Little Neighborhood Folklore
For another fun neighborhood discovery, turn right on the logging road toward Whiskey Bridge. From the bridge, look down into the creek and, if you look closely, you can see the remains of an old Model T in the water.
Local folklore also has it that this old logging road was once used for transporting moonshine through the mountains.