This is the largest area of old growth forest in the park, which was preserved by a fellow named George Pollack. He named the area Limberlost after a forest described in a novel by Gene Porter, entitled Girl of the Limberlost. Mushrooms, mosses and some spruce trees also thrive at the head of the Robinson River on this nearly level area. Explore Big Meadows Big Meadows is the largest treeless area in the park, once kept open by fire and other means for grazing. Here also is Big Meadows Swamp, a 3,500-foot high bog where marsh marigolds and other wetland plants grow.
Wildlife can be abundant in the openings.
Witness the Power of a Flood Witness the incredible power of the 1995 flood on the North Fork of Moormans River gorge where massive mudslides are becoming revegetated among tree trunks buried in the soil, rocks and piles of downed trees. Changes in nature often occur imperceptibly, but here, the sudden violent power of the elements was unleashed on this valley. Finally, view the falls at Big Branch, a side stream also gouged out by nature. Stand atop Geology Geology can sometimes be hard to understand, but from Chimney Rock, you can stand atop a massive white quartz outcrop, which was broken into blocks by ice wedging in stone cracks. From Skyline drive take the Riprap Trail on the spine of a ridge over the Calvary Rocks to reach Chimney Rock.