Life at 60, (mph)

Water Clarity – 6+

Natural Quality – 8

Difficulty – easy

(GPS; @210 Staton rd, Hendersonville, NC)

Perception – Weekday

Cascade Lake is a small lake, known by a few flat-water paddlers in the Asheville/Brevard area of Western North Carolina, it is located 14 miles from Hendersonville on the fringe of DuPont Forest.  DuPont Forest is a protected setting for a number of activities such as horse-back riding, hiking, and dirt-biking, plus waterfalls more spectacular than that of Hooker’s, the one just above Cascade.

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I have paddled this small lake a several times (@ 2 miles in length), it’s simple and especially nice in the winter for its peaceful setting, water clarity, and of course that convenience of just ‘getting away.’

Trout Waters, Hooker Falls

On this date I put in at Hooker Falls (named after an old Grist Mill Owner rather than a profession), putting-in here requires a portage of a little better than 1/4 mile. Its a park-use trail with a natural area and the stream flowing alongside (2020 note: trail has been modified away from along stream, a little more intense of a walk and portage).  I have heard that for five bucks you can put in at the Cascade Lake Camp Ground but having for me (and my ‘dollie’) the portage here is easier than the complicated drive there

(Note; campground closed Nov 2015 – check for reopening – update 2021, Lake not open to public).

New Trail goes by the Hooker – Moore 1800’s cemetary, interesting.

There is a video on You-tube of folks going over the 14′ falls in whitewater kayaks…

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Once in the water I wasted little time heading downstream………..

finding more of what I came here for, – peaceful paddlin.

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About halfway down the lake is the only human habitation on the lake, a campground – the rest of the shoreline is wooded and natural.

On occasion, the stealth of paddlin allows one to slip up on “wildlifes daily-life,” – which I like.

Human camp-life surrounding some campsites can be amusing too…

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A little further down the lake is a restricted area just before the Dam, an early 1940’s effort of hydro-electrical power. There is a dirt road (Cascade Lake Rd.) that skirts the lake -which provides a better view of the falls from the road.

– and the long forgotten wooden conduit that once carried the water a few miles downstream to the old power plant.

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The 3 pictures above are from a previous drive along Cascade lake road, it’s a pretty impressive gorge below the dam.

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On the return is a cove with a cement shore line, leading to an even older foundation of some sort – I even spotted the ‘lil Dipper in the daylight.

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I am unsure of the history of this particular foundation, possibly another mill (maybe Hooker’s?).

But back to paddlin…

How about a dinosaur spine?

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There were foraging deer in this one marsh area, also a beaver dam with signs of activity.

It was a relaxing morning paddle; tranquility base, ez pace.

Appreciating the opportunity of the moment, and that it is a small lake with limited access. Few really know about the lake part of it.

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But many more know about the falls.  Back at Hooker falls it was a different story. As I rounded the corner in a peaceful state of mind, it was a different story. It was August heat Friday – and, the Falls were alive with people; folks having fun. Noise, – happy noise.

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another Cascade paddler

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After sitting in the mist of the falls, I parked the yak and jumped in the water with them……

– it was ‘fresh!’

and worth the walk for me.

Cascade Lake was a simple paddle, not a totally ‘mundane‘ lake – alot of it has to do with Why? you paddle.

If time is a factor, the entire lake can be seen in three hours or less. If not, make any paddle worth the effort that you have put into being where you are, Yes! I’m saying “appreciate the opportunity that you find yourself in” – anytime of year.

‘Feet-up’

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