Big Piney

The next morning we headed out to take a few pictures, and again ended up in the area around Big Piney Creek and Haw Creek. Although it was a sunny day, the valley was still shrouded under a thick coat of fog. We hurried to get some pictures, stopping first at the old Fort Douglas schoolhouse (which was built in 1946).



And then we drove across the historic Hwy. 123 bridge over Big Piney Creek. The narrow one-lane bridge was built in 1931.



Luckily there wasn't much traffic out that morning, so we were able to stop on the bridge for a few quick pictures.



Next to the creek is a dirt road that heads off into the woods alongside the creek. It's a fun little road to drive down, especially on a foggy morning with vibrant fall colors.





But it isn't the easiest road to drive down, since the road runs right into Big Piney Creek. In order to go further, you have to ford the creek to head on (which is funny to me, since that sounds like something you'd expect wagon trains on the Oregon Trail to do). But luckily we were in Matt's truck. If we were in my car, it would have been immediately submerged and then floated off towards the Arkansas River.

After crossing the Big Piney, the road runs alongside the creek and eventually passes beneath Car Wash Falls. This waterfall is aptly named since you can actually drive right through it, giving your car a nice wash in the process. The falls are 21 feet-tall, and empty right onto the road (just be sure your sunroof is closed before you drive by).



And the view from the car as you pass under Car Wash Falls:



We drove further down the road, making several stops to get pictures of the trees that were showing off their fall colors.









The sun was starting to finally break through the thick fog, and we made a stop along the valley to get a few shots. The retreating fog clung onto the distant hillsides.



We started headed back, but one made one last stop here for a few quick pictures as the last bits of fog drifted above the hills by this old barn.