This area is accessed from Whittier at exit 72 off of Hwy 74. Connelly Creek Rd heads up into the Cowee Mountains and turns into FR86 which runs through the natural area. The area is a high elevation valley and contains the southern most red spruce forest and a spruce bog area. I got up there around 8am and found the grasses in the fields near the parking area still wet with dew.

There were quite a few varieties of wildflowers in bloom, so I shot some of those before heading up FR86E towards the top Alarka Falls.