Where can we camp? Wilson Creek Visitors can camp in Mortimer Campground, National Wild and Scenic River located next to Thorpe Creek off NC 90. This first- Trail Guide come first served campground offers 19 sites with tent pads and grills and a picnic shelter with four tables. Accessible flush toilets and showers are available. Hiking trails and a trout stream are nearby. In addition, many opportunities exist for dispersed camping in Wilson Creek. For more information, call the Grandfather District Office at (828) 652-2144. Where can’t we camp? No overnight camping is allowed for a two-mile stretch for 500 feet on either side of Wilson Creek in the gorge. Drinking of alcoholic beverages is CHECK OUT VISITOR CENTER... also banned in these gorge areas. To remind visitors An angler casts his line for trout in Wilson Creek, The Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce operates this visitor center April through November on considered wild waters and wild trout waters. of these regulations, signs are posted along Brown Wilson Creek Road. (Photo provided by Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce) (Photo by Bill Lea) Mountain Beach Road. In addition, camping is not allowed in maintained wildlife openings. 1 2 TRAIL DIFFICULTY 4" MIN. EASY DIA. Can we hunt and fish? 4' Rock These routes are appropriate for Find a good novice through advanced users. The Fishing and hunting are very popular in the branch and Toss rope Wilson Creek. Many game animals, such as deer, balance food 15 ' over branch. trails generally follow obvious, bags. WILSON black bear and wild turkey thrive in the area in well-marked trails and roads. Grades are gentle, this Pisgah National Forest. Miles of streams offer and few obstacles are encountered. warm-water and cold-water fishing. Some waters are A kayaker rides the Wilson Creek’s Class II-IV+(V) stocked and others support wild fish. MORE DIFFICULT white rapids that squeeze through narrow gorges. These more challenging routes are (Photo by Mark Bradshaw) 1" Min. CREEK Where can we ride horses? 3 Dia. 4 appropriate for intermediate through advanced users. Terrain may be The Wilson Ridge Trail is open to horses. Riders THE PERFECT PLACE FOR steeper, trails narrower and some obstacles may also travel on gated roads, such as Schoolhouse Position rope Hoist first sack OUTDOOR ADVENTURES to support to branch. Tie be encountered. Ridge Road. second sack as With fantastic vistas, ridges more than food-not high on rope as While horseback riding offers another dimension bear cubs! possible, leaving 2009 4,000 feet high, whitewater rapids and trails out a loop. to the backcountry experience, horses require special MOST DIFFICULT that travel to spectaclar waterfalls, Wilson These routes are recommended for considerations and care. To minimize the impact of America’s Great Outdoors Creek offers great adventures for hiking, scenic advanced to expert users only. Ter- you and your horse’s visit, please follow these no- viewing, mountain biking, fishing, camping, rain is steep, and routes are not well trace techniques: horseback riding and backpacking. marked. Considerable skill is required, as well Forest Service ● Take only fit, calm and experienced animals. 5 6 as knowledge and survival. United States Department of Agriculture ● Ride single file and make sure your animals stay WILSON CREEK NAMED on the trails. NATIONAL W&S RIVER ● Water horses at natural fords or from a bucket. To retrieve: hook loop ● Keep stock tethered at least 200 feet away from 4' WILSON Back in the 1960s, people recognized that with long streams and away from trails and campsites. Toss to stick and Pisgah CREEK our nation’s rivers were being dammed, dredged, position. pull down. National Forest 77 Greensboro 85 diverted and degraded at an alarming rate. As a ● Avoid even temporarily tying stock to trees. Use

23 10' Raleigh 17 a highline with tree-saver straps to tether your 40 85 response, Congress created the National Wild Min. Asheville and Scenic Rivers System in October 1968. animal. This prevents stock from trampling roots 26 1 95 and chewing bark. Charlotte Wild rivers are historically free-flowing, unpolluted and generally inaccessible except by ● Break up and scatter manure and fill in pawed Nantahala 17 Bearproof food by placing items in two bags and National Forest trail. Scenic rivers may be accessible by roads, holes when breaking camp. Uwharrie hanging from a tree. National Forest but they are largely undeveloped. ● Pack some feed, since grazing is limited. Be Croatan From Lenoir National Forest Because recreational rivers are readily certain that the feed is weed-free to prevent From NC 90 west to Collettesvile. Turn left accessible by roads, these rivers may have noxious plants from spreading. Bears in backcountry on Adako Road (SR 1337) just beyond school undergone impoundment and diversion or Hikers and companions travel the Thorpes Creek Trail ● If you see a bear, keep your distance. and grocery store. Go three miles to Mortimer development may occur along shorelines. near Mortimer Campground in the Wilson Creek Area. ● If a bear approaches, DON’T RUN. Slowly Campground signs on right. Turn right and travel (Photo by Julie Trzeciak) Wilson Creek became North Carolina’s From the North Harper Creek Trail, hikers can spot Bicycles are not allowed back away watching the bear. Frighten the on SR 1328 to Wilson Creek area. newest wild and scenic river on Aug. 18, 2000. the 40-foot North Harper Creek Falls that drops in the Lost Cove and bear by yelling and throwing rocks. into a 50-foot-wide pool. RESPECT THE RIGHT OF WAY Beginning at at , the creek GORGE INCLUDES GREAT SCENERY ● Maintain a clean camp. Pack out all food Hikers yield to equestrians. Mountain bikers From Morganton (Photo by Mark Bradshaw) Harper Creek flows for 23.3 miles to Johns River. Surrounded In the Wilson Creek Gorge, the creek cuts and trash. yield to hikers and horseback riders. Off-highway Take NC 181 north about 11 miles toward Linville. by Pisgah National Forest, the river flows through some of the oldest rocks in the Southern study areas. ● Keep cooking and eating areas separate vehicle riders yield to equestrians, hikers and Turn right on Brown Mountain Beach Road through through the Southern Piedmont and Appalachians. The 4,000-foot drop from its from sleeping areas. Keep tents free of mountain bikers. Be courteous to every user of (SR 1405) at a small wooden church on right. Go Blue Ridge Mountains. headwaters to Johns River is the greatest relief found food and food odors. the National Forests in North Carolina. 4.5 miles east to Mortimer Campground sign on anywhere along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The Bikes, horses and ● At night, secure food and other attractants left. Turn left and follow SR 1328 to Wilson Creek. large elevation span creates biological diversity GREAT RIVER FOR 9 hikers are ONLY at least 10 feet off the ground and four feet The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) where rare and endangered plants and animals exist. R T from the tree trunk. From Asheville VARIETY OF RECREATION 8 allowed on the prohibits discrimination in all its programs and Take I-40 East to Exit 103 (Nebo/Lake James). Wilson Creek’s extreme elevation span O signed trails and w R activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, Follows same directions as above. creates the perfect river for a variety of WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS A 1 roads shown on A Watch for wildlife age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital - status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual recreation. The river’s 2.3-mile gorge is best OFFER CHALLENGING HIKES map. Both trails I ● Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow D For maps and Information known for its recreational values: wild-trout Managed to protect wilderness attributes are the ≠ or approach them. orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, and roads are L reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s National Forest in North Carolina fishing, outstanding scenery and challenging Wilson Creek Area and Lost Cove and Harper Creek ● No camping is allowed in maintained wildlife S marked by vertical 6 160A Zillicoa Street whitewater. The Brown Mountain Beach Road Wilderness Study Areas. In these areas, trails travel S openings. income is derived from any public assistance Asheville, NC 28801 parallels the lower reaches of Wilson Creek, steep, rugged terrain to excellent views of mountains I signs. All routes ● Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all (828) 257-4200 where 15.4 miles of river are popular for fishing, and cliffs, rolling creeks and waterfalls. G are open to hikers. T I their health, alters natural behaviors and exposes programs.) Persons with disabilities who require H swimming, hiking and kayaking. Wilson Creek follows the southeast side of N G them to predators and other dangers. alternative means for communication of program O ● information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) Grandfather Ranger District For nine miles, Wilson Creek squeezes Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area, and the Blue R N If you see a bear, keep your distance. If a bear 109 East Lawing Drive through a rugged gorge that is surrounded by the Ridge Parkway borders Lost Cove’s northwest side. P approaches, Don’t run. Slowly back away should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) Nebo, NC 28761 Pisgah National Forest. Rapids with names like Surrounded by high elevation cliffs, Lost Cove’s E watching the bear. Try to frighten the bear by 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of

(828) 652-2144 “Boatbuster” and “Thunderhole” are found here. elevations range from 1,700 to 3,900 feet. Trails lead S yelling, throwing rocks and making noise. discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office Designated as recreational, this river section to Hunt Fish Falls and Gragg Prong Falls, beauties C ● This is bear country. Cook and store food away of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., includes a difficult run with Class II-IV rapids worth stopping to view. Harper Creek Wilderness R from your camp. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795- E ● 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an suited only to skilled paddlers who can ride the Study Area is crossed by a trail network that leads to Sunbathers enjoy the Harper Creek rock beach. E Control dogs at all times or leave them at home. wild rapid whitewater. streams and a variety of waterfalls. (Photo by Mark Bradshaw) K ● Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, equal opportunity provider and employer. nesting or raising young. Recreation Guide R8-RG 327 Revised April 2009