The Balsams—MST Segment 2
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Trails Cross Small Streams—Making Very Wet Crossings Litt T a a L N M E I a W 443 Ta 1.0 C K During flooding
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 T E To Knoxville To Knoxville To Newport To Newport N N E S SEVIERVILLE 321 S E E 40 411 R 32 I V 441 E R r Stream Crossings T 411 r re CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST e y r m Exit Nearly all park trails cross small streams—making very wet crossings Litt T a A l n m e i a w 443 ta 1.0 C k during flooding. The following trails that cross streams with no bridges P r i n t a 129 g u o n P can be difficult and dangerous at flood stage. (Asterisks ** indicate the e 0.3 u o M r n e s o most difficult and potentially dangerous.) This list is not all-inclusive. Riv be Ga M 0.4 r McGhee-Tyson Li e s ttl 441 ll Airport e w i n Beard Cane Trail near campsite #3 0.3 o Cosby th o L o ge Fo Pi R R Beech Gap Trail on Straight Fork Road ive iv r Cold Spring Gap Trail at Hazel Creek er 0.2 Eagle Creek Trail** 15 crossings W e 0.3 0.4 SNOWBIRD Fork Ridge Trail crossing of Deep Creek at junction with Deep Creek Trail s e Tr t Ridg L en 0.4 o Forney Creek Trail** seven crossings P 416 D w N r e I o k G TENNESSEE Gunter Fork Trail** five crossings TA n a g nWEB a N B p Hannah Mountain Trail** just beforeU Abrams Falls Trail S OUNTAIN 0.1 Exit 451 O M 32 Jonas Creek Trail near Forney MCreek L i NORTH CAROLINA tt Little River Trail near campsite #30 le Long Hungry Ridge Trail both sides of campsite #92 PIGEON FORGE C 7.4 Pig o 35 Davenport Lost Cove Trail near Lakeshore Trail junction eo s MOUNTAIN n b mer y e MARYVILLE Cam r Trail Gap Meigs Creek Trail 18 crossings nt Waterville R Pittman u C 1.9 k i o 1 h Noland Creek Trail** both sides of campsite #62 v Big Creek E e 0 e WE . -
Peak to Peak—MST Segment 1
1 | Mountains-to-Sea Trail Last Updated 11/12/2018 View from the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Clingmans Dome Photo by Danny Bernstein Peak to Peak—MST Segment 1 Clingmans Dome to Waterrock Knob By Jim Grode The 46.8-mile-long Segment 1 of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) be- gins in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), straddling Ten- nessee and North Carolina. Newfound Gap Road (US 441), which travels north from Cherokee, North Carolina, to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, forms the backbone of the park and climbs to over 5,000 feet at Newfound Gap. If national parks have specialties, the Smokies is known as a hiker’s park. The scenery is diverse: mountain views, old-growth trees, waterfalls, streams, and more shades of green than a paint chart. Mile for mile, you’ll Segment 1 | 2 find hiking in the park easier than in the neighboring national forests. Even though there are no blazes on Smokies trails, they are so well marked at every intersection that you can follow them with confidence. (Still, stop at a Visitor Center and pick up a Great Smoky Mountains Trail Map for $1.00.) The Smokies may be the most visited national park in the country but only the roads and parking lots are congested. With over 800 miles of trails, even popular trails are not very busy. The trails in the Smokies are well maintained and well marked. Hikers will appreciate that they’re in a na- tional park. The Smokies, in a temperate rainforest, have a great variety of wildflowers, from the first bloodroot in March to the last asters in Octo- ber, as well as more tree species than all of Europe. -
Shining Rock and Grassy Cove Top Hike
Old Butt Knob Trail and Shining Creek Trail Loop - Shining Rock Wilderness, Pisgah National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 11.9 mls Hiking Time: 8 hours with 2 hours of breaks Elev. Gain: 3,410 ft Parking: Park at the Big East Fork Trailhead on U.S. 276. 35.36583, -82.81786 By Trail Contributor: Zach Robbins The Old Butt Knob Trail and Shining Creek Trail loop is a classic introduction to the Shining Rock Wilderness Area of North Carolina. Beginning at the Big East Fork Trailhead on U.S. 276, both trails climb from 3,384 feet to meet the Art Loeb Trail above 5,800 feet at Shining Rock Gap. Despite the relatively short length of this loop (9.4 miles including Shining Rock), this is a difficult day hike for hikers of all abilities. The Old Butt Knob Trail climbs over 1,400 feet in the first mile, and the Shining Creek Trail is incredibly rocky and steep over its last mile. Despite the hardship, this is an excellent backpacking loop with outstanding campsites and even better views. The Old Butt Knob Trail features multiple views from southern-facing rock outcrops, and the views from Shining Rock and Grassy Cove Top are some of the highlights of the wilderness. Even though this is a wilderness area, this is in close proximity to Asheville and is popular with weekend backpackers. Try to start early if you want to camp at Shining Rock Gap, which is one of the best campsites in the region and is also the crossroads for 4 trails within the wilderness. -
Hiking Students in the Parks & Recreation Management Major Have Produced This Guide
Parks & Recreation Management Hiking Students in the Parks & Recreation Management major have produced this guide. For more information about the PRM program contact us at: Where Whee Play 828.227.7310 or visit our website at: wcu.edu/9094.asp Base Camp Cullowhee Not ready to explore on your own? Or would like to try a new outdoor adventure? Need to rent outdoor gear for your next adventure? WCU’s Base Camp Cullowhee (BCC) provides an array of outdoor program services, which include recreation trips, outdoor gear rental, and experiential education services. Contact BCC at 828.227-3633 or visit their website: www.wcu.edu/8984.asp Authors: Brian Howley Robert Owens Brett Atwell Milas Dyer “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” - John Muir 8 Local Trails with Details & Directions Hiking Tips for a Successful Trip Leave No Trace Ethics Cullowhee Adventure Guide Produced by: PRM 434: High Adventure Travel Spring 2011 Western Carolina University is a University of North Carolina campus and an Equal Opportunity Institution. 150 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $85.50 or $0.57 each. Office of Creative Services: November 2011 11-512 WATERROCK KNOB Difficulty: Moderate-Hard Trail Time: 1Hr (2.4 miles) Travel Time From WCU: Approximately 40 minutes Directions to trailhead: Turn right on NC 107 go 5.1 miles, turn right at US-23 go 1.4 miles, take ramp onto US-23 go 9.0 miles, turn left toward Blue Ridge Parkway go 0.5 mi, turn right onto Blue Ridge Parkway, go 7.2 miles to Waterrock Knob. -
Pisgah District Trails
PISGAH RANGER DISTRICT TRAILS Table of Contents: Trail Name Length Rating Trail Use Page # Andy Cove Nature Trail 0.7mi Easy Hiking 3 Art Loeb Spur 0.6mi Difficult Hiking 4 Art Loeb Trail–Section 1 12.3mi Difficult Hiking 5 Art Loeb Trail-Section 2 7.2mi Difficult Hiking 6 Art Loeb Trail-Section 3 6.8mi Difficult Hiking 7 Art Loeb Trail-Section 4 3.8mi Difficult Hiking 8 Avery Creek 3.2mi Medium Hiking/Biking 9 Bad Fork 2.0mi Difficult Hiking 10 Bennett Gap 2.9mi Medium Hiking/Biking(seasonal) 11 Big Creek 4.9mi Difficult Hiking/Sections open to bikes& horses 12 Biltmore Campus 0.9mi Easy Hiking/ wheelchair accessible 13 Black Mountain 9.8mi Difficult Hiking/Biking 14 Boyd Branch 0.7mi Easy Hiking/Biking 15 Bradley Creek 5.1mi Medium Hiking/Biking/Horses 16 Buck Spring 6.2mi Medium Hiking 17 Buckeye Gap 3.1mi Difficult Hiking 18 Buckhorn Gap 5.2mi Medium Hiking/Biking/Horses 19 Buckwheat Knob 1.5mi Medium Hiking/Biking 20 Butter Gap 3.4mi Medium Hiking/Biking 21 Caney Bottom 4.6mi Medium Hiking/Sections open to biking 22 Case Camp Ridge 1.7mi Difficult Hiking 23 Cat Gap Bypass 0.4mi Easy Hiking 24 Cat Gap Loop 4.4mi Medium Hiking/Sections open to biking(seasonal) 25 Chestnut Cove 0.2mi Medium Hiking 26 Clawhammer Cove 1.5mi Medium Hiking 27 Club Gap 0.8mi Medium Hiking/Biking 28 Cold Mountain 1.4mi Difficult Hiking 29 Coontree Loop 3.7mi Medium Hiking/Sections open to biking(seasonal) 30 Courthouse Falls 0.3mi Easy Hiking 31 Cove Creek 0.7mi Easy Hiking/Biking 32 Daniel Ridge Loop 4.0mi Medium Hiking/Biking 33 Deer Lake Lodge 1.4mi Medium -
Blue-Ridge-Parkway-Map.Pdf
20 To Richmond 340 29 250 0 1 5 Km 10 Loft Mountain Information Center 33 CHARLOTTESVILLE 0 1 5 Miles 10 h HARRISONBURG a o d n r a e n v i e R North h S Shenandoah 250 276 National Park S (Entrance Fee) D k u y d l l 11 i e n 64 y e M 20 D t r n 256 S i o ve u Milepost along t h 20 98 Blue Ridge Parkway R iv er 340 Overlook 81 s Ch n rist i ia 29 a n t Tunnel under 13 feet s n u (located near southern o end of parkway) Rockfish Gap M C r 1900ft No direct access e 254 n e a 6 to parkway k 3 F 3 Northern End of Food service WAYNESBORO Blue Ridge Parkway 3 275 11 Picnic area 6 er 250 624 iv R 42 64 631 151 STAUNTON Lodging 15 sh fi 6 ck 250 Ro Humpback Rocks Campground 664 Visitor Center 81 340 Greenstone Trail 42 10 Wintergreen 254 Ravens Roost 11 Humpback 13 Mtn 252 664 n Sherando Lake t M 814 Woods 56 y Mountain a l d To Richmond 151 n i G L 701 F I Bald 20 R T J T Mountain am E L e A E Twenty s 24 T N Minute O Cliff R i R Crabtree v T e The r H Falls T N ye Priest O M R Tye River i R v O 56 er T Gap U 56 H N T 5 A Whetstone Ridge I N Steeles 30 29 60 M Tavern O 42 151 Wigwam U 11 The Friar Falls N 26 T Yankee Horse Ridge A The Cardinal S 81 o I u N t Irish Gap h GEORGE R i 252 v Amherst e 40 r WASHINGTON NATIONAL 23 Whites Gap T 39 Overlook FOREST 60 o b 2567ft a c 29 42 c 39 o BUENA Indian Gap R Forge 5 o Monroe VISTA w To Petersburg Mountain M 50 o er u iv n R t 460 39 ury 60 a 60 Ma in 6 130 64 20 Little R r House LEXINGTON Otter Creek James ive Mountain 10 Bluff 42 Mtn 60 Big House 501 Lowest Elevation 501 Mountain on Parkway 649ft -
Fryingpan Mountain Hike
Fryingpan Mountain – Pisgah National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 1.7 mls N/A N/A Hiking Time: 1 hour with 15 minutes of breaks Elev. Gain: 375 ft Parking: Park on the shoulder of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Fryingpan Gap. 35.39526, -82.76805 By Trail Contributor: Zach Robbins Fryingpan Mountain is home to one of the tallest lookout towers in North Carolina at 70 feet. The mountain, at 5,342 feet, is part of the rugged Pisgah Ridge on the eastern front of the Great Balsam Mountains. This is a short, accessible hike for all ages from Fryingpan Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can also use a combination of trails emanating from Mount Pisgah Campground or Buck Spring Gap Overlook to create a longer day hike. Although the top cab of the tower is closed, you can still climb the steep stairs to get fantastic views in every direction. You’ll be blown away by the view of the Shining Rock Wilderness to the west, plus the other directions aren’t too shabby. Combined with Mount Pisgah, this short hike is a great way to orient yourself for further exploration of this region. Parking at Fryingpan Gap - Park on the wide, grassy shoulders on the Blue Ridge Parkway around Fryingpan Gap. Do not block the gate. Parking here is limited since there is no parking lot. If the area is crowded, then you may need to park at the Mount Pisgah Campground which will be a 4.2-mile round trip. From the gap you’ll clearly see the lookout tower and communications tower overhead. -
Mountains and Meadowlands Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Mountains and Meadowlands Mountains and Meadowlands Along the Blue Ridge Parkway Text and photos by William A. Bake Office of Publications National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 1975 A Prologue to the Past 1 The Blue Ridge Parkway Rolling into the distance like "the great distance like breakers and swells Ocean itself," the Blue Ridge dips into a means mountains—the highest deep cove at Wildcat Rocks in Doughton frozen in time. of them mantled with trees and Park (Milepost 240), then swells toward the horizon. Their time, in fact, began long wildflowers uniquely their own. ago, even in geologic terms. The It also means meadows—some Blue Ridge Mountains—indeed, for farming, others that beckon all the Appalachians—are an visitors to wander and explore. cient mountains. Rounded in This booklet introduces both form and subdued in height, the mood and substance of the they are nevertheless a rugged Parkway's highest peaks and lot whose wrinkles and crannies, sweeping meadowlands. Though Indian pipe, a small but conspicuous saphrophyte, pushes past the clover-like cliffs and gorges are often hid designed to be read quickly, it leaves of wood sorrel. den from easy view. remains to be re-examined when ever mountains and meadow- Like so many of the Earth's lands return to mind or presence. mountains, the Appalachians were created in a very complex An "Ocean of Woods swelled manner. It is sufficient to say, and depressed with a waving rather than going through the Surface like that of the great complexities, that what remains Ocean itself wrote an early is a range of mountains which visitor as he sought a way to begins in the Canadian maritime describe the Blue Ridge Moun provinces near the Atlantic and tains. -
Feb 1993 Newsletter
The Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing News February 1993 Contents Hiking Canoeing For The Record HIKING POND MOUNTAIN WORK TRIP (Scheduled for Saturday, 6 Feb 93) Leader: Ed Oliver (615.349.6668) Rating: Difficult If the weather is reasonable, we will work on the Pond Mountain relocation. If the club installs the relatively level portions of the relocation this winter and spring, we should be able to open the relocation after the Konnarock Crew and the club completes the remainder of the relocation this summer. The weather in February is somewhat unpredictable. If you are interested in helping with this work, contact Ed Oliver at 349.6668. This work will not involve much if any side hill digging. We will concentrate on cutting and digging out brush and in defining the trail. SHINING ROCK WILDERNESS AREA DAY HIKE (Scheduled for Saturday, 6 Feb 93) Leader: Tom Pridgen (Phone: 615.245.5975) Rating: Difficult We will plan to do a day hike in the Shining Rock Wilderness located in the Pisgah National Forest southwest of Asheville, N.C. Driving time from Kingsport to the trailhead will likely be 2.5 hours, one way. The trip leader has not hiked in this area but knows enough about the area to anticipate at least part of the hiking to be exposed to wind above 5000 feet. Expect it to be COLD. We will try to reach the Shining Rock peak via the Art Loeb Trail from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hiking distance may be as high as 10 miles (round trip) depending on winter access to parking and may involve considerable (3000 feet) elevation gain if the Parkway is closed because of slick roads. -
At the Blue Ridge Parkway's Waterrock Knob
Please join us at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Waterrock Knob The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service will host an event to commemorate the National Park Service’s Centennial and celebrate the protection of lands surrounding Waterrock Knob, a major scenic destination on the Blue Ridge Parkway. An effort to conserve more than 5,000 acres in the Plott Balsam Mountains and much of the spectacular views from Waterrock Knob will be achieved through collaborative efforts led by The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service, with significant donations from The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Trust for North Carolina and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. This tremendous conservation success was made possible in part with funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Fred and Alice Stanback, Brad and Shelli Stanback and other private supporters. WHEN: Tuesday, August 23 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. WHAT: Speaking Program Immediately followed by an optional hike on the Waterrock Knob Trail to the 6293-foot summit* WHERE: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, Milepost 451.2 DIRECTIONS: Traveling westbound from Asheville, take Interstate 40 to exit 27 for US-74 / US-23 West. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway exit, turn right on the Parkway. The center is approximately 45 miles from Asheville. R.S.V.P. BY: Friday, August 19 to [email protected] or 703-797-2503 *The one-mile roundtrip hike is a steep climb (412 feet in elevation) with great views along the way and at the top. A clear day offers 50-mile views, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Maggie Valley.. -
Backpacking Adventure 7-DAY
bACKPACKING Teen Leadership Expedition North Carolina u Adventure 7-DAY TRIP COST: $1,385 AGES: 13–14 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: u Backpacking & Camping u Backcountry Navigation skills u Leave No Trace (LNT) training u Teambuilding & Outdoor Leadership u Explore the Blue Ridge Mountains WHY TAKE THIS COURSE? u Gain backpacking, camping, navigation, and backcountry cooking skills u Challenge yourself in new and rewarding ways u Gain the skills necessary to explore the wilderness Where you’ll be: u Pisgah National Forest u The Art Loeb trail u Black Balsam Knob TRIP INCLUDES: u All lodging and transportation during the trip u Equipment for all activities u Up to two (2) dedicated NCOAE Field Instructors u All meals, admissions, and gratuities u Shuttle to/from ILM airport (If driving, contact NCOAE for alternative drop-off/ pick-up locations) * NCOAE recommends students bring a small amount of spending money for extra snacks and souvenirs. 9809 River Rd. | Wilmington, NC 28412 USA (910) 399-8090 | Fax: (888) 399-5957 Scan QR code [email protected] | www.NCOAE.org for more info. For complete itinerary details, see reverse side u www.facebook.com/NCOAE NORTH CAROLINA – Teen Leadership Expedition BACKPACKING Adventure The setting for this adventure is the Pisgah National Forest, located in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn the basics of backpacking and wilderness travel, as you explore cool mountain streams, hidden swimming holes, and cascading waterfalls. u Day 1: Your trip begins here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina. You’ll meet the other participants, then begin with an orientation, teambuilding, expedition planning, and outdoor skills activities. -
Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Animal Species of North Carolina 2020
Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Animal Species of North Carolina 2020 Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander (Aneides caryaensis) Photo by Austin Patton 2014 Compiled by Judith Ratcliffe, Zoologist North Carolina Natural Heritage Program N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources www.ncnhp.org C ur Alleghany rit Ashe Northampton Gates C uc Surry am k Stokes P d Rockingham Caswell Person Vance Warren a e P s n Hertford e qu Chowan r Granville q ot ui a Mountains Watauga Halifax m nk an Wilkes Yadkin s Mitchell Avery Forsyth Orange Guilford Franklin Bertie Alamance Durham Nash Yancey Alexander Madison Caldwell Davie Edgecombe Washington Tyrrell Iredell Martin Dare Burke Davidson Wake McDowell Randolph Chatham Wilson Buncombe Catawba Rowan Beaufort Haywood Pitt Swain Hyde Lee Lincoln Greene Rutherford Johnston Graham Henderson Jackson Cabarrus Montgomery Harnett Cleveland Wayne Polk Gaston Stanly Cherokee Macon Transylvania Lenoir Mecklenburg Moore Clay Pamlico Hoke Union d Cumberland Jones Anson on Sampson hm Duplin ic Craven Piedmont R nd tla Onslow Carteret co S Robeson Bladen Pender Sandhills Columbus New Hanover Tidewater Coastal Plain Brunswick THE COUNTIES AND PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES OF NORTH CAROLINA Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Animal Species of North Carolina 2020 Compiled by Judith Ratcliffe, Zoologist North Carolina Natural Heritage Program N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Raleigh, NC 27699-1651 www.ncnhp.org This list is dynamic and is revised frequently as new data become available. New species are added to the list, and others are dropped from the list as appropriate. The list is published periodically, generally every two years.