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Merritt McKinney

Just another snowboarder who fell in love with the outdoors. I hike, climb, fly drones, take pictures and make videos. Currently studying computer things at the University of Alabama while exploring Chattanooga, Johnson City, and the North Carolina mountains.

I visited this waterfall on my way back from DeSoto Falls. It is only a 20 minute detour back to the interstate. It takes less than 3 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall overlook. Once here, there is not much to do, but, with the size of the waterfall and ease of access, this stop is a no-brainer.

If you are up for the challenge, lug a kayak to the base of DeSoto Falls. Its tough so be prepared and bring friends to help. It is completely worth being able to paddle right up to the massive chute of water!

Moss Rock is easily accessible and a terrific spot for a relaxing climb. The area and boulders are maintained and there is plenty of room to spread out. The scenery, creek, and waterfall add to the experience. I typically go after class and stay until dusk. Moss Rock is quite impressive considering how close it is to a large city such as Birmingham.

I visited Goshen Pass before this adventure was added to the Outbound and it took over an hour to find because there were no decent directions on the internet. Once we did find our bearings, we loved the place! Everything from the drive to the bridge to the rocks made the experience epic! It's an easy walk to the top of the rocks and there are plenty of trees to tie off a top rope. The routes are a great combination of fun and technique. This would be a great place to take a beginner.

This is certainly a hidden gem. It's one of those places that you wonder how it is real. It's not difficult to hike to or travel down into the cave. Trail notes are spot on. Definitely get a permit.