Rob GierschExplorer

To the north of Panthertown lies a chain of dammed lakes that are some of the most peaceful waters in Western North Carolina. These make up the headwaters of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. The gorges that run between the top lakes are wild, scenic, and adventurous to even the most experienced hiker and/or canyoneer. Paradise Falls lies deep within the narrow and winding ravine below Wo...

Sand Rock is a unique set of rock outcropping that erupts from Shinbone Ridge overlooking scenic Lake Weiss. The climbable rock runs for about a quarter of a mile along the ridge and is a maze of trails, small caves and literally wall-to-wall climbing.You can find just about any climb to satisfy your vertical appetite whether it be jug, crimp, or crack, and be assured there is technical divers...

The Big Creek Freeride area is part of the Big Creek recreation area which provides a paved greenway, singletrack mountain biking trails, and two pump tracks.The Freeride area contains a number of downhill mountain biking lines that bottom out at the Greenway toward the back end of the trail system. Multiple gap jump lines can be found at the top of the hill where more experienced riders can go...

Foster Falls State Park is part of the South Cumberland State Park system. A short 45 minute drive from Chattanooga, Foster Falls boasts a stunning 60 foot waterfall that is worth visiting during any season of the year. The trailhead for this 2 mile hike starts from the Foster Falls parking lot and follows the rim of the gorge on river left. On your way you will pass a viewing platform that pro...

The Chattahoochee National Forest and Cohutta Wilderness make up the wild and scenic southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blood Mountain trail offers the day hiker a taste of the Appalachian Trail that does not disappoint. The hike starts at the Byron Reece trailhead at Neels Gap where you follow the blue trail blazes. As is typical in the southeastern mountains, your journey begins w...

Foster Falls State Park is a sport climber's paradise, with most climbs tailored to advanced and expert climbers. Gravity Boots and After Burner are two climbs found on the Rocket Slab which is a standalone piece of rock to the left of the Sanford Wall. Both climbs run about 40'-50' and are bolted for sport climbing.My sons are just getting the hang of leading sport climbs so this was the per...

Bear Creek is a southern favorite amongst the mountain biking community. There are many variations and add-ons to make this ride more challenging, but the classic up and back from the parking lot at the base of Bear Creek is one of the most rewarding and adrenaline pumping runs you will find in North Georgia.From the trailhead you will start the long (but manageable) 5 mile climb up into the m...

On the first Saturday of November the best creek boaters in the world gather at the Green River in North Carolina to see who can storm the Narrows and claim the top title (at least for the next year!). For paddlers, creek boating is a pursuit along tight and narrow steeps that most of us have never heard of. The challenges, both physical and mental when contemplating hucking 40 foot waterfall...

The Cheoah River is a dam controlled section of whitewater that has become one of the "bucket runs" for Western, North Carolina. Located near Robbinsville, NC, the Cheoah is a non-stop class IV+ classic of constant gradient that delivers a Southeastern whitewater experience like no other. There are a number of spots to put in depending on length of time and section of river you want to run, bu...

Lake Nickajack has an incredible stretch of 50' limestone that is only accessible by water. The beauty of this wall is that a majority is vertical to slightly overhung, so you can ascend and at any time and just drop into the deep waters below. The limestone is covered in tufas, so plenty of opportunities to exercise that gorilla grip.The best approach is to float up to the wall in your boat ...

Bent Creek is my favorite Mountain Biking spot in the Southeast, and epitomizes the fun and beauty to be found biking in the North Carolina mountains. Riding is open year round, but spring and fall are ideal when temperatures are still cool and colors are exploding. You can easily spend hours wandering the green singletrack Bent Creek has to offer.The Lake Powhatan Recreation Area has multip...

Stone Fort sits atop the Cumberland Plateau just half an hour from downtown Chattanooga, and is one of the premiere bouldering locations in the Southeast. One of the three sites of the annual Triple Crown Bouldering competition, Stone Fort offers a wealth of climbing problems for any climber's ability and stamina.Stone Fort sits next to a golf course, so there is good parking and bathrooms. C...

Sope Creek is a little slice of wild heaven squeezed into the hustle and bustle of Atlanta's metro madness. Bordering the Chattahoochee River, Interstate 285, and Suburbia sprawl, Sope Creek offers the city dweller an environmental escape that seems too good to be true. From the parking lot off Sope Creek Rd ,Take the Sope Creek Trail (blue blazes) that drop down to Spoke Creek. Once you arr...

The Obed Wild and Scenic River is typically not found in the same conversations as Zion or Yosemite, but be assured this hidden gem of Tennessee is one of the East Coast's must climb destinations.There are a number of climbing areas within the Obed worth exploring, ranging from bouldering to multi-pitch traditional routes. The Lilly Bluff area is a great introduction to The Obed as there are ...

The Slab and Eternity hole, located on the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River, are two of Western, NC's best play spots for kayakers of all levels. Paddle down only yards from the public boat launch to The Slab where you can perfect your surfing in kayak, SUP, or whatever boat you float. A few hundred yards further down river brings you to eternity hole on river left. The play hole is strong an...