No matter the setting, no matter the condition; waterwheel driven mills are a beauty to behold.  The Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock is no exception.  The mill, waterwheel, and surrounding stonework have been restored.  It is even run when water conditions are right (unfortunately not today).  I was hoping for buckwheat flour for pancakes but no such luck.  They only grind cornmeal nowadays.  “Buckwheat is too dusty.”  Bummers.

Boley lake….the trail winds through a luxurious quietness that is cradled in the rhododendron thicket that surrounds the lake.  It isn’t silent but the perfect balance of a myriad of sounds.  Soft soil dampens the tromp of booted feet.  Bugs buzz and hum.  Woodpeckers drum in the distance.  Birds chatter and call from the forest.  Frogs and toads plop into the pool as we venture too near for their comfort.  From somewhere high in the trees the clear toned melody of a thrush slices through the otherwise muted sounds.   We never journeyed very far from the developed area of the park but still found a peaceful connection with this lovely place.

The campground is shaded and many sites are nicely spaced.  There are lots of cabins here too.   I’d recommend this quiet mountain retreat.