This Land, Your Land

The annual Mother's Day weekend waterfall tour at DuPont State Recreational Forest is set for Saturday, May 12, and Sunday, May 13.

The 12-mile shuttle bus tour visits the forest's four most scenic sites: Triple Falls (below), High Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Julia. Visitors can get off and on buses at each stop. The tour takes three hours or longer, depending on how much time is spent at each stop.

"Tour de Falls is intended to provide families and those with limited hiking abilities a chance to see the beauty of DuPont Forest and some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Southeast via shuttle buses," a news release says.

Buses will be available at the High Falls Access Area, 1300 Staton Road, Cedar Mountain (N35E11.356', W082E 37.425'), approximately every 40 minutes from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The 10,400-acre forest straddles the Transylvania/Henderson county line.

Volunteers on the buses and at each stop will provide information about the area's history and efforts to protect the forest's historical and natural resources.

Light refreshments will be available in the lodge overlooking Lake Julia, the last stop on the tour. Otherwise, visitors should bring water and snacks; there are no food concessions. Triple Falls and High Falls have covered shelters with picnic tables.

A donation of $6 for ages 6 to 17 and $12 for ages 18 and older is requested.

Friends of DuPont Forest, a non-profit organization that works with the state Forest Service and Department of Agriculture to "enrich the recreational experience and preserve the natural resources" in the forest, sponsors the tour each spring.

The Friends initiated a fall version of the tour last September.

Click on the photo of Triple Falls for more information about DuPont State Recreational Forest.