Gorgeous waterfalls beckon just west
From hiking to wineries to used book stores, go for beauty and relaxation in Polk County.
Pearson's Falls is one of Polk County's premier scenic attractions. Sites in Polk County are 85 to 95 miles west of Charlotte (about a two-hour drive). GARY McCULLOUGH
MORE INFORMATION
Polk County, barely two hours west of Charlotte, is home to picturesque waterfalls , a scenic N.C. byway, nature trails, wineries, historic attractions, eclectic shopping, cozy B&Bs, and a host of special-event weekends from early spring through late fall.
Distance
Sites in Polk County are 85 to 95 miles from Charlotte (about a two-hour drive).
Getting there
Take Interstate 85 South; at Kings Mountain, take U.S. 74 Bypass West to the Columbus area; follow N.C. 108 south to Columbus and Tryon. In Tryon, take U.S. 176 West to Pearson's Falls or to reach Saluda.
To see and do
Pearson's Falls has been a major scenic attraction in the Blue Ridge foothills for decades. Discovery of the falls goes to Charles Pearson, who happened upon the 90-foot cascade while working for the Asheville-Spartanburg railway. He was so enamored with the place that he bought a large tract of land along the Pacolet River that included this natural wonder.
He allowed locals to visit the falls. They often came with banjos, blankets and baskets of food to while away their time while enjoying the scenic beauty. In 1931, hard times required Pearson's heir to sell off a large portion of the land, and the property came close to being sold to a timber company.
Fortunately, the Tryon Garden Club stepped forward and raised enough money to purchase 308 acres. In time, the club laid a quarter-mile path beside Colt Creek, built a stone bridge across the creek, added a stone gatehouse and restrooms, and placed numerous benches and picnic tables along the trail. Kevin Adams, author of "North Carolina Waterfalls: Where to Find Them, How to Photograph Them," gives Pearson's Falls a beauty rating of 7. He notes: "During the right conditions, it's hard to take a bad photo. . . . There are several boulders and cascades at the base which make for a good foreground." Pearson's Falls is a designated botanical preserve.
The route to Pearson's Falls is U.S. 176, which runs alongside the Pacolet River and parallels the Saluda Grade. The portion of highway between the S.C. state line and the Henderson County line is designated a N.C. Scenic Byway. Along this road is the Norman Wilder Forest, offering a 2- to 3-mile wooded hike on the steep slopes of Little Warrior Mountain.
U.S. 176 also connects Tryon and Saluda. Tryon has a surprising number of used book stores, a vaudeville-era single-screen movie theater and the somewhat famous statue of "Morris the Horse." Tryon is host to the annual Block House Steeplechase in April.
Downtown Saluda, anchored at one end by a restored train depot, also has a nice variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a small park.
You'll also want to check out Columbus, the Polk County seat. It has one of the oldest courthouses still in use in the state: It was built just before the Civil War.
Polk County trivia
Much of the county falls within an isothermal belt, an unusual microclimate area usually free of dew and frost.
The Saluda Grade is a three-mile stretch of track that has the distinction of being the steepest mainline railroad grade in the country.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/24/1781203/gorgeous-waterfalls-beckon-just.html#ixzz13HU5LwI6
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