Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Bradley Falls, Another Secret Waterfall Motorcycle Destination

   If you are looking for a fun motorcycle ride or peddle bike ride, here it is.  Bradley Falls in Saluda, North Carolina.  The dull boring way to get to Saluda is to take Interstate 26 to exit 59.  The fun way to get to Saluda from Asheville or Hendersonville or Tryon or Landrum or Spartanburg is to take U.S. 176..  I hope you read my earlier article about that.  Here is a link.  http://rondclimer.blogspot.com/2016/02/ride-your-bike-to-pearson-falls-on-us.html  If you do ride your bike up the steepest grade in the eastern United States on U.S. 176, when you get to the top, turn right on Holbert Cove Road.  Cross Interstate 26.  Stay on Holbert Cove Road for 3.7 miles. 

Bradley Falls is huge.  If you are near Saluda, see it.

      You will see a parking area beside the road just before a small bridge.  Park here.  It is about a 40 minute walk to Bradley Falls to your left.  Little Bradley Falls is to your right. Bring hiking shoes and tote some water with you.  This is a huge waterfall.  It is worth the walk.  It is dangerous.

     You may want to have a guide.  As you left Interstate 26 on Holbert Cove Road, you passed The Gorge.  They lead hikers all the way to the falls.  http://thegorgezipline.com/    

After you finish your hike, continue on Holbert Cove Road.  It ends at Silver Creek Road.  A right turn will take you to Mill Spring, North Carolina and Hiway 9.  North on Hiway 9 will take you to Black Mountain.  South on Hiway 9 will take you to Spartanburg.  Don't turn right.  Turn left on Silver Creek Road.  It is about a mile to Silver Creek Baptist Church. From there turn left on Green River Road.
Be aware that Bradley Falls is a dangerous hike

     If you liked twisty turney Holbert Cove Road, you will love Green River Road.  It is twistier, turneyer, and a lot more scenic.  It follows the Green River.  You can stop most any place and take a a dip in the river. Bring a picnic lunch.  After you pass Fishkill Landing, Green River Road is extremely twisty and turney.  There are curves that will almost require you to slow down to 5 M.P.H.  Be extremely cautious or turn around and go back the way you came.  When you come to the stop sign after the extreme turns, it might look familiar.  That is because you are back at the intersection of I 26 and Holbert Cove Road.

     The fun is not over.  Cross the interstate.  Right in front of the BP gas station on the west side of I 26 is Howard Gap Road.  If you are headed back south to Spartanburg or Charlotte or Greenville, take Howard Gap Road back to Tryon.  It is twisty and turney and scenic.  It ends on Hiway 108.  A left takes you to I - 26 and Columbus, North Carolina.  If you have not ridden White Oak Mountain, read this.   http://rondclimer.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-waterfall-motorcycle-destination.html  A right takes you back to Tryon and U.S. 176.

     Enjoy our western Carolina roads.  Ride safe    www.ronclimer.com   www.climerconsulting.com   

    

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