Basin Creek Trail to Caudill Cabin - Traphill, NC
“No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” - Heraclitus
“Seriously mom, another picture?!” - Alex Shields
The Story -
Today was my second time hiking the 11-mile out and back Basin Creek Trail to Caudill Cabin, and I can still say that it is one of my all time favorite hikes, if not my favorite hike in North Carolina. Don’t let the 11-mile distance discourage you; Basin Creek Trail will not disappoint.
Ok, you almost lost me at 11 miles, but I am still interested -
The Basin Creek Trail takes you deep into a secluded gorge, along Basin Creek. You follow Basin Creek almost the entire trail, crossing it a minimum of 30 times. (I recommend wearing clothes you don’t mind getting wet along with water shoes. Be sure to bring a change of clothes and socks/shoes for the ride home). You encounter two gorgeous waterfalls and several remnants of the Basin Cove community which was wiped out by a flood in 1916. The trail concludes at Caudill Cabin, the only structure left standing after the flood and still fully intact. In the cabin you will find a picture and information on the family who lived there as well as a log book to record your visit. (Imagine living with 8 children in a room the size of a large closet. Crazy! When did the parents get any privacy to produce all those kids??!!)
Spill the Tea -
This hike is not for everyone. However, those who accept the challenge will not be disappointed. It has it all (other than views, you are deep in a gorge) - few people, historical artifacts, water, and more water, off trail adventure opportunities, and gradual elevation changes to get your heart pumping. Plan on getting wet, really wet and for your heart to beat a little faster. Start early, pack a lunch (there are numerous spots to stop, rest and enjoy your lunch or a snack next to the water) and make a fun-filled day of it. Plan on at least 6 hours on the trail.
The Family Tea-
One positive of the Covid pandemic is that all my family is home for the summer, and we were able to do this hike together. Ginger, Maria and Sophie are always excited for a hike, yet Amelia and Alex normally need a little more convincing. Once on the trail, however, I think they really enjoy it. We did not take our dog Sophie on this trail because she is afraid of water, and as mentioned above, there is a lot of water. Ginger and Maria enjoy taking pictures of wildflowers, plants and animals along the trail. (We tease Ginger about using her photo stops as a veil to stop and rest). Basin Creek Trail provided them a variety of wonderful opportunities for photos and rest - Wild mushrooms, blackberries, hydrangeas, rhododendron blooms, salamanders, butterflies and more. Alex is our speed hiker and it is hard to keep up with him sometimes. He did slow down to skip numerous rocks, look at his phone, lead an off trail path to a waterfall, and to eat. Amelia is our back of the pack hiker yet always seems to find the most interesting things. Her artistic eye is ever-observant.
Wrap It Up -
Ginger, Alex and I did this hike for the first time in August last year and I was looking forward to doing it again, this time with Maria and Amelia, and hoped they would enjoy it as much as I did. Even though this was my second time on the Basin Creek Trail, it was a different experience with my girls. I noticed different things along the trail and at times it felt like it was my first time there. A thought occurred to me - life is that way, too. We all get into ruts and the “same ol’ dull” routine in life, yet if we can somehow view our daily experiences with fresh eyes, we can discover new and wonderful things. My girls helped me this time. It reminded me that we need to surround ourselves with people that encourage us to see things from a different perspective. And even though we travel down similar paths in our everyday life routine, we can discover beauty and meaning each time, if we are purposeful and willing to look for it.
