Outdoors hiking INFORMATION / TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Transylvania County is popular for cyclists and mountain bikers, but there are many more miles to explore if you like to hike. With four major public lands – Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest, Gorges State Park and Headwaters State Forest – within its borders, Transylvania County offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
Pisgah National Forest itself has roughly 400 miles of trails. Popular routes in the Pisgah Ranger District include several around the Davidson River area to the Black Balsam area off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hikes range from family-friendly jaunts to strenuous overnight treks. The 30-mile Art Loeb trailhead is a short hike from the Davidson River Campground, which is closed this year for renovation work.
For more information, stop by the ranger station, which is located a mile from the forest entrance on U. S. 276, or call( 828) 877-3265.
There are 82 miles of forest roads and trails open to hiking in DuPont State Recreational Forest.
Some hikes are easy: Hooker Falls is a quarter of a mile walk from the Hooker Falls access area on Staton Road.
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The most popular forest destinations are Triple Falls and High Falls on the Little River. A 2.25-mile hike from the High Falls access area takes visitors by both waterfalls. Bridal Veil Falls is a 2.5- mile hike from the High Falls access area, or 2.25 miles from the Fawn Lake access area on Reasonover Road.
There is a covered bridge on Buck Forest Road just above High Falls that is a 0.6-mile walk from the Buck Forest parking lot.
Lake Julia, the largest lake in the forest at 99 acres, can be reached from either the Fawn Lake or Buck Forest access areas.
Dense Lake is a short side trip off Conservation Road when going in from the Buck Forest parking lot. Fawn Lake is on the way to Lake Julia if one takes Fawn Lake Road to Conservation Road.
A more strenuous walk is the trail to the top of Cedar Rock and a trail to the top of Stone Mountain, elevation 3,640 feet. Visitors who are up to the challenge will be rewarded by panoramic views from either location.
The DuPont State Recreational Forest office may be reached at( 828) 877-6527.
Gorges State Park, located on N. C. 281 South off U. S. 64, has 25 miles of great hiking opportunities.
HIKING INFORMATION
– Auger Hole Trail –
Among the area’ s trails are the Auger Hole trail, a 7.25-mile trip( oneway) through the center of the park that ends at the Foothills Trail; and the Cane Brake trail, a 5-mile trip along the eastern boundary of the park, which also connects to the Foothills Trail at the top of Lake Jocassee, where the Toxaway River and Toxaway Creek meet.
– Horsepasture River –
Visitors wishing to hike to the Horsepasture River area, which is owned and operated by the U. S. Forest Service, should follow signs in the park leading to the new Grassy Ridge Trailhead parking.
– Frozen Creek –
The Frozen Creek Access, located near Rosman on Frozen Creek Road, includes hiking access.
– Gorges –
Inexperienced hikers should not try and tackle the more remote trails in Gorges. For more information about Gorges, call( 828) 966-9099 or visit ncparks. gov / gorges-state-park.