Big South Fork- Devils Den, Needles Eye, Jake’s Falls, Hidden Stone Campsite, O&W Overlook, & more

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Big South Fork- Devils Den, Needles Eye, Jake’s Falls, Hidden Stone Campsite, O&W Overlook, & more

Рет қаралды 4,375

Күн бұрын

On a warm early November morning we set out to see the unbelievable Needles Eye, a huge 150 ft. long natural tunnel with a neat arch in its entrance. Along our chosen trails were several awesome features, including Devils Den, Jake’s Falls, O&W Overlook, an odd, secluded stacked stone structure that appears to be a little used campsite. There was a small arch in a ledge above the trail and a nice off-trail double arch we just happened to stumble upon. It was a jam packed 6.5 mile hike in the amazing Big South Fork.

Пікірлер: 61

@John-bk1ek 11 ай бұрын

Nature really creates some beautiful pictures

@papawinthewoods 11 ай бұрын

Man can’t touch what nature creates! Nature is the ultimate builder of beautiful things. I’m just so fortunate to be able to visit these amazing places. Thank you John-bk1ek. Take care and be safe!

@ozonetnvol 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for showing this trail! I had not heard of it before but I hiked this yesterday, using your video to plan the day. It is a beautiful area, had a great day.

@papawinthewoods 10 ай бұрын

Thanks ozonetnvol! I’m thrilled knowing you could get what you needed to make this hike from my video! I really try to give directions the best as I can. That’s what it’s all about. Hikers helping hikers!

@hasty43 Жыл бұрын

Great Video Papaw! I certainly enjoyed your adventure. Thank you.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thank you, as always, Sue. It was an excellent day for sure. We're heading back to No Business for a couple hikes soon. We hope to find a couple homesites we haven't located yet. Come on back for that!

@wanderingoutyonder Жыл бұрын

Wow! Loved the Needle's Eye - super cool! Lol love the signs - that would make us giggle too! This looks RIGHT up our alley! Loved this video!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

I appreciate this WOY! There's an easier way to Needles Eye but it would miss most of the other neat stuff along the trail. We're in it for everything we can put into our hikes. I don't know who named these trails, or why they chose these names but it is pretty funny. If you Ladies ever decide to come to Big South Fork on any of your journeys I'll help you get to visit any of the things you've seen in my videos. Big South Fork makes you work a bit before giving up its sights but that kind of means it's all the more worthwhile. Google "Charit Creek Lodge, Big South Fork" sometime. It's a backcountry lodge that can only be accessed by hiking or horseback. Spend the night in 150 year old log cabins with gourmet meals. You Ladies would love it I believe. It's booked up months in advance though.

@londoncity1 Жыл бұрын

WOW... this was a wonderful experience. Love the caves and natural shelters. The stone campsite was really cool. Nice waterfalls. This was really nice especially that double arch.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

This day was planned to hike to everything we could fit in on one trip. We did good! There were some amazing things along those trails. We had heard about the stone campsite but had never been to it. The double arch was unexpectedly found when we decided to step off-trail and explore around a bluff line. It was an amazing day for sure. Thank you so much London City. I appreciate it. Take care!

@timking9098 Жыл бұрын

Yes I've lived here in the big south fork area all my life and yes they are some very beautiful place to see..

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Then you know about a lot of these places and why I hike to them. Big South Fork has plenty of them. I have many more hikes to take. Thanks Tim. Take care!

@kerrywoolbright5716 Жыл бұрын

That was indeed a good day. I never knew about the rock house , very interesting. Well, I can say 30 years ago, it was poop free!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Nichola said Melinda went up there and found it. She showed us where it was at. It's very neat. Doesn't look like it has been used much for the amount of work that went in to building it. There was plenty of horse poop on the "Oh Poop" trail. Not much on the "Old S**t" trail though.

@JamesRobertSmith 3 ай бұрын

What a great video! I'm glad I found it.

@papawinthewoods 3 ай бұрын

The camera doesn’t do Needles Eye justice. The place is huge! This is absolutely one amazing hike. You should try to put this one on your schedule! You’ll be glad you did!

@nicholenewport5395 Жыл бұрын

That is a great video of a awesome hike!!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

It sure was an awesome hike Nichole! I'm glad you think the video turned out good. I'm my own biggest critic. I feel better about things when an awesome, experienced hiker, like yourself gives their approval. Thank you!

@goldiethompson6569 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Beautiful area, looks like fun. Thanks for sharing your adventures! 😀

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thank you Goldie. I’m fortunate to live in a huge, diverse and gorgeous area. I’ll never run out of places to explore. I hope you’ll be coming back to see more of them. Take care and stay safe!

@goldiethompson6569 Жыл бұрын

@@papawinthewoods I enjoy your videos, beautiful and fun ! Thanks for sharing! God bless you 😇 have a great day!

@ericbwalsh Жыл бұрын

What BEAUTIFUL scenery here!! Love that bridge near the beginning! That looks straight outta a movie! 🎞 😂 great video!! 👍

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

That old railroad bridge is around 90 years old! No railroad there anymore but it's still very cool! Big South Fork is full of great features like this. We're just getting started. Thanks a lot Eric. Take care and stay safe!

@karlo8093 Жыл бұрын

I've always wanted to see the Needle's Eye. Moreso now! That was amazing! Great video Papaw!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

There’s an easier way to get to it and not have to climb that mountain. There’s a trailhead out Mt. Helen Road near the Honey Creek Horse Park where you can hike the ridge top out to it. Of course, it’s all on horse trails. It’s worth seeing no matter what way you hike it. It is amazing!

@RamblingTim Жыл бұрын

Two thumbs up. 👍👍 A great place for a hike.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks Rambling Tim. Big South Fork has a ton of great places to hike. We always find some great stuff off trail too. Plenty more coming up. I appreciate it! Take care!

@Packsalot Жыл бұрын

That was a neat area to explore. Those cliff dwellings reminded me of those around here in Southern Utah and Arizona. The name of that trail was pretty funny. I loved seeing the needles eye and the natural bridges. That slot canyon cavern area was awesome! I would love this kind of trail. Great job on your exploration of this area. Looked like a great day. Take care.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks Packs! I hadn’t been on several of the trails we were on in this hike. There was something cool every where we went. We have rock formations everywhere around here. Big South Fork has the largest concentration of arches East of the Mississippi River. It’s an awesome place! I thank you my friend. Take care and stay safe!

@jameslandon4245 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate your video. I do a lot of off trail stuff but I've never seen needles eye! Thanks!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Needless Eye is incredible. It can be hiked to a lot easier than we did on this day. Near Honey Creek there’s the Honey Creek Horse Camp. There’s a trailhead near there where you can hike to it and stay on the ridge tops. It is a horse trail though. We were trying to see as many things as we could find on this day. Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate it James. Take care and stay safe!

@vs123 Жыл бұрын

It's a very beautiful place

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much. I live in a gorgeous area no doubt. I appreciate you watching.

@NicoleHikesalot Жыл бұрын

Wow...that stone structure was really interesting... sure seems to be a campsite. Devils Den was great. LOL that poop trail sign made me laugh. Needles Eye is wonderful! The shape of the whole thing... man oh man it's beautiful. That ladder, I hope I could do it. That was a great drop off when you were up on that ledge...the double arch was amazing too.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

It took a lot of work to build that stone structure. Strangely though, it looks to be little used. I had heard of the "Oh Poop" trail before, but this was my first time hiking on it. Don't know how it got its name. It must be a horse rider thing... Needles Eye is just stunning! It just makes you stand there in amazement. Then there's all the other things along the trail that makes it just an awesome thing to be hiking on. It was one of our very best hikes! Thanks Nicole. You and Tim please take care, stay healthy and safe!

@JimHayesHiking Жыл бұрын

Boy this had alot in it! That old shelter type thing was awesome and that took great pains to build it up like that. Needles Eye was fantastic as well! We have a bunch of ''poop'' trails in the NRA but I just call them horse trails....LOL! Another great adventure in the BSF! Have a great week my friend.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

The “Oh Poop Trail” will keep you giggling every time you see a sign. That rock wall and firebox has hardly been used. That’s a lot of good hard work for it not being used much. Needles Eye is just amazing. It just makes you wonder how it was formed and why is it here, and that’s before you marvel at how huge it is. That thing is over 150 feet long! We saw some other neat things too. It was a jam packed hike for sure, but that’s BSF for you. I never fails! Thank you Jim. Take care my friend.

@chrispredsfan 8 ай бұрын

My son and his friend built that rock shelter. It took them around 3 years to completely finish it. If you go to Honey Creek and some of the southern parts of the park they have built similiar structures in that area just smaller.

@papawinthewoods 8 ай бұрын

They built a great structure! It’s still very solid. They really made sure every rock fit in its place! That must have been some hard work! Thanks for the information Chris. I’ve been told a couple of different things but nothing definitive until now. Take care, stay healthy and safe.

@caroljones8572 Жыл бұрын

Great video!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thank you Carol. This was an amazing hike! It was just full of great features. I appreciate it! Take care and stay safe!

@karlo8093 Жыл бұрын

That rock wall was really neat! I'm gonna have to go find it next time I am there. We did a little of that one time but didn't make it much beyond going over Jake's falls. If I remember right, we were to cross the little stream that made Jake's Falls, and my wife wasn't to into that idea. Anyway, gonna go find that. That was really neat! Jake's falls was just a trickle this go around huh? gonna have to leave off here........ Will finish up watching when I get another free moment. Enjoying it so far!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks Karl. That rock wall is in a cliff row just up from Jake's Falls. I had no idea it was there. I'd like to get back to Jake's Falls when the waterflow is better. This was an awesome hike. There was a tom of stuff to see along a 6.5 mile day. Needles Eye just is mindblowing! Never seen anything like it. It can be reached from near Honey Creek from the top without climbing the mountain. But that would be all on horse trails. I hope you enjoy the rest Karl. I sure appreciate it my friend.

@fernwogteveril6935 Жыл бұрын

Awesome video. I love how you are willing to try different trails and found something cool like that double arch. I did a backpacking trip and was in that area. Devil's den was cool, luckily I got curious and found that overlook by the picnic table. I saw signs for Needles Eye but didn't go.... I wish I had! Good reason to go back I suppose.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks Fernwog. Needles Eye can be accessed from near Honey Creek out the Mt. Helen Road, there's a trailhead near the Honey Creek Horse Camp where you could hike to it without having to climb that mountain. Of course, the hike would be along the horse trails. We are always looking at maps, listening to what people say and playing "connect-the -dot" to come up with our hikes. I think it's in the groups DNA to step off trail. That's where we find some great stuff! We probably have 5 or 6 hikes already in the planning stages. It seems what we find always leads to another hike.

@awitnessuntoallnations Жыл бұрын

Great job capturing the beautiful scenery of this area as you trekked along. There was so much to see! Enjoyed the commentary throughout as well. We haven't explored this part of the country but after watching would sure like to. Thanks so much for taking us along! Glad we found your channel! 👍

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! There was an almost overwhelming amount of things to see on this hike. Most of it was new to me. As for my commentary, I just try to show where we start, which trails we hike, what we see along the way and where we finish. I really hope anyone who wants to do the same hike can look at a map and plot the same course we hiked. It's all about helping others see what we see. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Come on to Big South Fork and explore it for yourself. 125,000 acres and some of the best features East of the Mississippi. I'd be happy to help you any way I can. Take care!

@Bird_Backyard Жыл бұрын

Beautiful sharing friend 👍👍👍👍👍

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thank you Ratha_Backyard. I'm glad you enjoyed.

@Bird_Backyard Жыл бұрын

@@papawinthewoods keep in touch friend 😍🤝

@MinuteontheMountain Жыл бұрын

What a cool area. So many unique rock formations and alcoves. Looks like a really neat place to explore.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Big South Fork is huge, over 125,000 acres bordering a State Park, a State Natural Area and a National Forest. We'll never run out of places to go. And it's full of arches, streams, waterfalls, old homesites.... on and on. A lot of the arches and waterfalls aren't on any maps. We love to find them. Thank you Minute on the Mountain. I appreciate it my friend.

@TrailHunters Жыл бұрын

Oh how I remember those horse ruts! They were insane! Aside from that, those areas are so beautiful. Haven’t been there in so long! Need to go back. Has the road to the bridge improved any? I remember my little Ford had a heck of a time getting down it. I’m glad to see that stone structure is still there near the falls. Thanks for the reminder of these amazing places!

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

The road to O&W Bridge is not as bad as it once was. Just a few potholes now. I remember where I found out about that stone structure now, In your video! There's a way to Needle's Eye from the Honey Creek Horse Camp on Mt. Helen Road. It's all along the ridgetops without that climb up the mountain from O&W Bridge. Of course, it's all on those horse trails. Thanks for watching and your always great comment. Take care Trail Hunters!

@atlanticgirl2432 7 ай бұрын

👍👍

@whshome 2 ай бұрын

Papaw, appreciate your great and so interesting video, used it for a great overnight backpack recently from O&W Bridge to camp at the O&W Overlook, then a day hike to the Eye of the Needle. Saw the trail going down to North Whiteoak Creek which you used and wondered where it went, kinda assumed to the O&W Road but we had to go back to our camp. Question: have you learned any more information about the stone house above Jakes Falls? I really wonder who, why, when etc. It was not a casual thing, a lot of work went into it. And wonder why only one end was built up, and likewise why no roof if it was lived in, would have been dry but cold without a roof. Also another question: what exactly and where is the "eye of the needle?" It wasn't clear to me which end the "eye" was located in, where you enter or the far end above N. Whiteoak Creek?

@papawinthewoods 2 ай бұрын

Hey Will, I have information that two young men built the stone structure over the course of 3 years. It definitely was a lot of work! It’s hardly been used by the look of the fire pit. Not much wood ash and very little smoke staining on the rocks. The “eye of the needle” is the small arch opening you stoop walk under at the entrance. The older locals called it the “Hole in the Ridge”. The trail we went down does come out on North White Oak about a mile beyond O&W Bridge. Man it is a steep hill to come down! I wouldn’t begin to think of trying to hike up that trail. It would be a monster! Thanks for watching my video Will. I’m extremely pleased you could plan a hike from it. That’s one of the reasons I make them. I’m thrilled when it all works out!

@heathermartin1566 10 ай бұрын

Did you not show No Tell Falls due to it being off trail or being a little dangerous to get there?

@papawinthewoods 10 ай бұрын

No Tell Falls is just too close to the trail and the trailhead. I had to give a vow of secrecy before it’s location was shown to me. I fully understand why. The graffiti artist would probably spray paint all over it. It’s one of the very few places I’m protective of. Thank you Heather. Take care!

@unpavedexplorer338 Жыл бұрын

WOW... this was a wonderful experience. Love the caves and natural shelters. The stone campsite was really cool. Nice waterfalls. This was really nice especially that double arch.

@papawinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks Unpaved Explorer. This hike was great and is just one little corner of Big South Fork's 125,000 acres. It's full of things like this. I'll never get to see it all, but I have to try!