So after coming off of working my long weekend, I decided to visit another fairly local spot as opposed to heading to North Georgia to fish. The weather was predicted to be rainy and times and the temperatures are just not high enough yet to hit the trout streams without waders. The spot I chose was Cochran Mill Falls. The falls are actually situated within a Chattahoochee Hills town park. It has an amazing parking area with bathrooms, picnic areas, and a playground for kids. The park is also comprised on miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and leads to a Nature Conservatory Center. There is a $5 parking fee, but since the parking area is video monitored for suspicious activity, I consider it fairly reasonable.
The trail starts just off the roadway and leads directly back to a small creek that has an old bridge across it. It has been a while since I’ve been to this fall, but I really, really thought it was a longer way than what it was. It was actually less than .25 mile to the bridge and I don’t think you could even legitimately call this a hike, it is more like a stroll, a jaunt, and quick stretch of the legs if you will. The bridge is in horrible shape and they have chain link fence keeping anyone from going across it. To either side of the bridge are trails down to the stream where you can cross. The waterfalls are directly to the right of the bridge and you can see them through some low hanging branches. The path to the right is a bit steeper and the creek is deeper on this side.
Path to the right of the bridge.
Path to the left of the bridge.
I usually opt to go down the left side of the bridge because it is a bit easier on my old knees and the creek is shallow at this point. I made my way down to the creek and observed the formidable opposition before me. I was wearing waterproof hiking boots, but apparently that only means in water that is LESS THAN shin deep! As I begin to try to tiptoe and rock hop across this little creek, I am suddenly brought back to the reality that I am a rather large man and agility is not necessarily my forte! I slip off a rock and my right foot goes in up to my shin, the before-mentioned threshold of my waterproofness. I stumble, shuffle and wave my arms like I’m at a rave and the beat just dropped. I regain my balance and since my foot is soaked, I give up and traipse across the creek with abandon with not another thought of staying out of the water.
As I’m stumbling through the middle of the creek, I see the waterfall in all her glory framed perfectly underneath the bridge. I pause a moment to appreciate the moment and then try to take a quick shot of it.
View from under the bridge, it was framed much better in real life. Notice the graffiti art, have I ever mentioned how much I love the raw creativity of graffiti art?
I make my way around the bridge and over a few rock outcropping to get set to try to do a bit of fly fishing. Someone who visited here recently mentioned they thought they saw fish swimming in the pool at the base of the waterfall. I got all my gear set up and picked the perfect pink San Juan worm and fished a bit with no luck. It was sprinkling on and off and it appeared as if darker clouds were moving into the area. I broke everything down and made my way back across the creek and down the lane to the parking area. All and all a pretty great way to spend a day off. Just always remember when the darkness begins to weigh your soul down, wet feet always dry out………
Small little cascade area.
My view while fly fishing!
Originally published on Steemit.Â
Photos courtesy of the author.
