Leaf Peepin’ with the Princess

For Thursday, 10/20, we booked the 2PM Nantahala Gorge Excursion on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. Oh yeah, we are doing our leaf peepin’ today in style!  On the way to the train depot, we stopped to hike the short loop trail to Juney Whank Falls.

Color is all around.

Rian at Juney Whank Falls.

And baby makes three! Lol. 

The train leaves out of Bryson City, NC and we enjoyed a stroll around town. The train ride was a fun and much less strenuous way to see some fall color. Our excursion was a 44-mile roundtrip, 4½ hour ride through the Nantahala Gorge with views of Fontana Lake, the Nantahala River rapids and, of course, lots of fall foliage. 

Great Smoky Mountain Train depot at Bryson City, NC

Sunshine yellow flitter.

The only bear that Rian wants to see!

Diesel engine prepping for our trip.

We opted for the open air seating so we weren’t trying to take pictures through the glass windows. Not sure of the weather, we initially packed hats, gloves, blankets and extra jackets – didn’t need any of that, it hit 90˚before we left! We had a layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center where we got to watch some talented young kids hone their kayaking skills in the rapids – apparently the Center is an Olympic training site.

Ever changing view - and no hiking uphill! 

Go around the bend. :)

Rog & Rian

Lake Fontana

Nantahala River rapids.

Future Olympians.

If only hammocking was an Olympic sport... Lol. 

Back in town we got to see the steam engine. Cool. 

With rain likely tomorrow, we’ll stay close to camp and see what the weather is like before deciding what we want to do.