Moccasin Creek Falls, Hemlock Falls, and Hellhole Mtn

It looks like we're going to have some great backpacking weather this weekend, so let's get out and enjoy it with a casual backpack.

We will begin the hike at a parking area on Moccasin Creek. The first mile of the hike is along a very picturesque trail which follows Moccasin Creek and has many small waterfalls and feeder streams with cascades. At just over a mile we will arrive at Hemlock Falls which has a nice pool below the falls. We'll take a short (10 min) break at these falls to hydrate, take photos, and have a little snack if needed. We will then proceed upstream towards the upper falls on Moccasin Creek. There used to be a quasi-trail going to the upper falls, but many years ago a storm with high winds and a tornado knocked down a lot of trees and the trail all but disappeared. There will be a water crossing on the second half, which will most likely require removing our boots - hence the requirement for water shoes. The trail to the upper falls is very narrow in places and has a few 'techical' spots that might require taking off your backpack. The upper falls are very nice and considerably larger (~35 ft) than Hemlock Falls. Our campsite will be located next to the top of the waterfall. 

When we arrive at the campsite, we'll set up camp and ALL pitch in to gather firewood for a nice bonfire. After gathering firewood for the evening, we'll have plenty of time to relax, enjoy the falls, explore the area, or whatever floats your boat. In the evening we'll have dinner, socialize, and hang out around the fire.

In the morning we'll have breakfast and then plan to do a short hike to the top of Hellhole Mtn. Although it's a short hike (~1/2 mi) to the top, it's all off-trail and very steep. But at the top there's a great view of Lake Burton and the valley. We'll take a little time to enjoy the views before heading back down. After we get back to camp, we'll break camp and plan to start heading back at approx 1 - 1:30 PM.

Note: The hike to the campsite is a little less than 2 miles and has about 600 feet of ascent. There is a "wet" creek crossing and some parts of the trail are technical.