This section of the trail runs through a mix of pine and hardwood forest, and drops fast (if you’re heading north from Winding Stairs) into a beautiful rocky gorge, where the river slices through novaculite, forming fantastic, deep, clear pools perfect for cooling off on a hot day. The trail follows the river upstream with multiple crossings and steady elevation, before reaching the Athens-Big Fork junction in about 3.5 miles. Along the way, keep an eye out for deer, songbirds, and, if you’re here in the spring, you’ll see plenty of beautiful wildflowers, especially in open stretches.