Moonshine Falls

3-11-06   I had visited Moonshine Falls only once when the trail began near the fire station on Hwy 276. Since then, some property that the trail passed through was sold and the trail was closed. The kind folks at Asbury Hills Summer Camp & Retreat stepped up to the plate and now allow the public to park and hike through their property. Please visit their web site and call ahead to be sure it's OK before you come. They might be having a large function and parking is limited. Their entrance is on Hwy 276 also - please check the site for specific directions also.

I had been meaning to return to Moonshine, so I couldn't turn down a recent invitation from SCJack to take me via the new trail. He had previously mentioned that there's another waterfall - Confusion Falls - on the same creek below Moonshine Falls. He called the camp and got the 'all clear'. I think the trail is about 3 miles one way, but it's easy to moderate and a nice hike through the woods. It's a good thing Jack knew where we were going, because I didn't and didn't have a trail map of the area. There's a map at the trail head if you have a photographic memory. A sign said maps were available at the office, but it was closed. The trail leaves the camp property at some point and I think enters the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. The trails aren't marked 'to Moonshine Falls' as such and it would be easy for a novice to get lost.

At some point along the first half of the trail, it picks up Matthews Creek. I'm not sure where the camp boundary is, but there's a 4x4 post in the ground at a point where you can take a side trail down to this swimming hole on the creek.

A little further up the trail you need to look out for where the trail turns to the right at crosses the creek. If the water level is low, you can probably cross on some rocks. If not, you have to do the cable cross to stay dry - hopefully. Here's Jack coming across.

I should have been paying better attention or taken notes instead of chatting - after this we made some turns, but I don't remember where. That's why you need a map, sorry. I can tell you we made turns at rock piles at a fork. The last was a right turn with small rocks painted red. Moonshine Falls is on this tributary of Matthews Creek. The trail leads a short way to the decent to the falls. You can get behind the upper section. There are still 55 gallon drums from the moonshine operation run there. They are behind where I was standing in this next shot.

To get to Confusion Falls from Moonshine, it's probably best to head back up to the top of the trail where you came down to Moonshine and continue down creek from the ridge line. You may notice where it appears people have been going. Confusion Falls isn't that far down the creek, but if to descend back down to the creek too soon, you'll come to a smaller unassuming waterfall. You'll know you've arrived if you see something like this next shot. There are a couple of big old trees down across the cove and impossible to get a frontal shot without including one of the trees. I really liked this falls. It's actually 2 creeks falling together as you can see on a topo of the area!

Confusion Falls