MAYO RIVER STATE PARK - FALL CREEK FALLS

 

FALL CREEK FALLS

Mayo River State Park is scattered along the Mayo River in Rockingham County, North Carolina near the border with Virginia.   We hiked a small section of the park originating the Deshazo Mill Road access.  The trek is only about 3.0 miles but contains some of the most scenic creek and river scenery imaginable.

Fall Creek Falls is the feature attraction on the hike and is located no more than a quarter mile from the trailhead parking lot.  If you are coming to see the falls, you can do this without breaking a sweat.

The falls are about twenty feet tall and are formed as water from Fall Creek encounters a large granite rock. From the water marks on the rock face, these falls have a much wider cascade during raining seasons and forms a nice pool at the base of the falls. 

The trail is a well marked path along the banks of Fall Creek as it meanders to the Mayo River. I called it "Ginger Creek" as the leaves of the late fall cast a ginger sheen along the trail.

The trail meanders along the banks of Fall Creek for about a three quarters of a mile. There we emerged from the ginger forest as the trail intersects with what I believe to be the Mayo River Trail.  We took a right at the intersection and proceeded upstream along the banks of the Mayo River.  The river scenery was stunning!

The Mayo River is named for Major William Mayo who was an assistant to Colonel William Byrd who first surveyed the boundary between North Carolina and Virginia. His journal contains some of the earliest accounts of the settlements in this area. The river forms in Patrick County, Virginia and contains two forks which eventually join above Stoneville North Carolina in Rockingham County.  It eventually merges with the Dan River near Mayodan. 

As we proceeded north on the trail following the river upstream, we encountered a fork in the river. The main stream followed along the trail to the north west, but to the west was fork which was shrouded with late fall color.  I suspect these are the two forks of the Mayo.

Not far from the forks is a small rapid which is formed as the river flows over a large granite rock formation that spans with the width of the north fork of the Mayo.

Climbing out on the rocks, I got some of the best pictures of the day, both upstream and downstream.

Just north of the rapid is a tree and on the tree is a notice that the trail is now crossing into the state of Virgina.  The markings changed from a blue "hiking" emblem to a painted white mark.  The trail proceeds for another quarter mile until we were stopped by a "No Trespassing" sign. 

Backtracking up the trail, the views just kept coming.  This part of the Mayo in the late fall evening seems to change as the sun began to set to the west.

Always amazed at the mirror like reflection that still water provides nature's scenery.  Fall Creek on the hike out provide one of those special scenes.  

Reflections on the slow moving Mayo River where also easy to find, especially as the sun emerged from the clouds.

While this trail is relatively short...about 3 miles total...it is jam packed with scenery.  A ginger forest empties into ancient river, what more can you ask for in a Sunday afternoon hike? Located near the Virginia line, the access is off Smith Road on NC 220.  Deshazo Mill Road is a remote partially paved road and you will need your GPS for the first trip there. Small gravel parking lot marks the trailhead.  Access is rated 8.

The scenery is a solid 9.  Anytime you have a waterfall, a creek through the forest and an ancient river, you have plenty to see.

The trail is a narrow forest, creek and river bank trail, but is well marked and well worn. We encountered two other groups on the trail on a Sunday afternoon, so the trail is well used.  Rate that a 9.

This is a great family trail. It is 45 minutes north of Greensboro.  It is a very easy, scenic trail.  A great place for a riverside picnic, and I imagine a nice wading pool beneath the falls on a hot summer day.  This is a solid 9 hike.  Sure glad we visited!