There are many, many gorgeous places in western North Carolina but one of my absolute favorite areas to visit is along NC Highway 215, a two-lane road that twists and turns north and south between Rosman and Canton. This portion of the highway is part of the National Forest Service's Forest Heritage Scenic Byway and defines the boundaries of the Shining Rock and Middle Prong wildernesses - Shining Rock lying to the east, and Middle Prong to the west. And for a photographer like me that enjoys exploring creeks and rivers in search of attractive waterfall compositions, few compare to the beauty of the upper West Fork Pigeon River that meanders alongside the highway. I've been there many times but I'm always looking for new opportunities to go again!

This is a hand-blended HDR image using four exposures captured at 1/6, 1.3, 2.5, and 5-seconds. ISO100 and f/16.