The Saturday before Mother’s Day Chris planned a trip to see some of nature’s best including my favorite – waterfalls.  It has been a tradition to have a picnic on Mother’s Day and since he was flying on Mother’s Day we bumped our fun day up a day so that we could have a full day of just enjoying being together. There is so much work we need to be doing at home but we have decided that we have to make time to also enjoy our new area.

Chris is the master at planning trips and he found an off the beaten track waterfall called Living Waters. Actually it is a series of 3 waterfalls in the same general location and they are probably not as well known as some of the ones that are found in the National and State Park Systems.  

Living Waters is on privately owned property where the Living Waters Ministry  is located.  Founder  Sue Wiatt is  from Tallahassee, Florida and had a following of people that would follow her from place to place and support her as she taught Bible Studies and did teaching.  Sue heard and heeded the call of the Lord and the story of Living Waters Ministry is detailed here.  She was able to purchase the property which includes the waterfalls and the ministry is careful to say that it is not a church but rather a ministry that stands on its own to offer retreats during the year that are geared towards couples, women, men along with several summer camps which are specifically for youth and children.  There is no charge to attend the retreats or youth camps.

Hidden behind the trees you can see the falls as you approach on the trail.

A closer look.

It’s hard to get both falls in the same picture but they are gorgeous.

The waterfalls are spectacular and there are trails that lead to viewing areas which we were able to access without any difficulty. Even though it is on private property we read that we were welcome as long as we were respectful which we always try to be.

Water cascades over the jagged rocks

The two large falls were stupendous with easy access to view them from a distance without having to be too close to the buildings that house the ministry.  My research found that these are called Mill Shoals and another one is called Bird Rock Falls or Cathedral Falls is another easy hike.  The day we visited it was a bit slippery so we did not hike all the way to the other falls but we had plenty of views of the cascades leading up to the falls.

Another look

What is it about waterfalls that attracts my attention?  I don’t know.  I do know that I just love to sit by them and watch the water cascade over jagged rocks and pool in the basin of water below. Tranquility and serenity seem to reign anywhere there is a waterfall and on a day like the one when we visited we had it to ourselves.

A look in the other direction

If you are interested in visiting Living Waters waterfalls it is an easy drive out of Brevard, North Carolina. Simply take US64 west to the right turn for NC215 at Headwaters Outfitters and drive 7.6 miles to the guard rail on the left. You will need to park as far off the roadway as possible and hike down one of the visible paths to the trails that lead to the falls.  The address for the Living Waters Ministry is 7935  Parkway Road, Balsam Grove, NC.