Driving to and from the mountains near and past Asheville can be a long, and tiring ride from the piedmont. The waterfalls, mountains, peaks, trails, wildlife, and views continues to call my name though. Driving I-40 is the quickest most direct way there for me. It tends to be a fairly level and a straight route that runs east to west..along the south side of our mountains, until Old Fort where it must make quite a climb. Some of the towns in this level section include Statesville, Hickory, Morganton and Marion. I have to admit that when I learned of a waterfall that was about halfway between Morganton and Hickory, NC., and that it also was just off of I-40 and in the city, I was somewhat interested but not terribly excited. How good could it be after all? Being in the lower elevations, I expected some 10-15 foot waterfall like the ones that surround me in the piedmont. One day coming home from South Mountains State Park, I made an effort to ride by and see this “city waterfall” named McGalliard Falls. Wow! It was much nicer than I anticipated. I was pleasantly shocked and surprised. I like when it works out like that. Now, I try to visit this on a regular basis coming home from the Asheville area, time permitting of course.
