Hiking & Waterfalls --TOP NORTH CAROLINA WATERFALLS Many of the fabulous hiking trails to a lot of our favorite waterfalls are closed while state officials work to clean up and create safe access to many recreation areas. If waterfalls are not a necessity for your destination and you are a retiree.....check out this list of NC's Top 20 hikes for retirees and let us know what you think! Please be patient whilst the hard work created by Mother Nature is being reversed. State and local employees and thousands of volunteers are working diligently to restore communities to the style of life they enjoy. It will never be the same, but it will carry on Always follow these recommended safety guidelines Seasonal Photo Tips In winter: you'll find interesting photo opportunities at many waterfalls. As many freeze over look for ice to shed new "light" on, around, or within your subject. White from snow and silvery grays can help refract light unless you prefer the contrast that the winter time generally provides. However, do not climb any potentially hazardous surface. They are dangerous and lives have been lost! As winter fades to spring, we receive an opportunity to see many of these waterfalls at maximum capacity. April showers and such. Be sure to check 'em out! Often, the blooming buds and flowers of spring add great colors to backgrounds as well as foregrounds. Summer Rules! Sorry, we can't help it. Heat and humidity are beaten by the cool refreshing mountain streams in the Old North State. Whether you found a swimming hole or just a quick head dunking, you will find many a waterfall to have thick green healthy foliage nearby. (Even if it is Kudzu!) Refreshment factor alone makes summer what it is. Oh yeah, no school either! Afternoon thunderstorms may often provide a brief increase in water flow levels. Or maybe you are near one of these waterparks??? Check out this great article from Cardinal & Pine about NC's Waterparks if you can't The fall usually provides a fabulous opportunity to create our own masterpiece. Just work to maximize foliage colors into your foreground and backgrounds and you are set! Also, during any time of year you can always work with different angles of the Sun for your most natural effects. Oops! There goes the secret from those professional classes we've read about. Well, we wrote it down first; then we read it!