Trail Reports

Autumn 2021

Trail Reports

By CML Staff

The eastern end of Three Top Mountain will be added to the Three Top Mountain Game Lands. Photo by Eric Hiegl Doughton Park, courtesy of blueridgeparkway.org

Grandfather Mountain State Park – The Profile

Does your family enjoy hiking and exploring our local forests, parks and trails? Follow our “Trail Reports” in each issue for some of the latest developments on trails and public lands, and to learn about opportunities to discover our region’s rugged mountain beauty.

Grandfather Mountain State Park Adds to the Profile Trail

The new Profile Connector officially opened this summer, after long-term construction. The new connector trail offers additional trail mileage along the popular Profile Trail. Ascending approximately 1,775 feet over nearly four miles, the Profile Trail begins at the Profile Trail parking area and ends at the Grandfather Trail at Calloway Gap.

The trail begins as a scenic, rolling pathway through seasonal wildflowers, then crosses the Watauga River and travels under a hardwood canopy for much of its length. Upper sections, beginning around Foscoe View, get steeper. A strenuous pathway of tumble-down rock joins the Grandfather Trail. Note that the upper section is steep and rocky and calls for careful footwork.

Trailhead access to the Profile Trail and Profile Connector is located at 4198 NC Highway 105 North, Banner Elk (near Lowe’s Foods at Invershiel and The Pedalin’ Pig Restaurant). n For more information, visit www.ncparks.gov/ grandfather-mountain-state-park/home.

Explore Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Doughton Park is the largest recreation area along the Blue Ridge Parkway and is located between mile markers 238.5 – 244.7. It features nearly 30 miles of trails that meander through a variety of wildflower meadow and forest habitats.

Appalachian history comes to life among the ridgetop meadows and steep mountainsides of Doughton Park. Several historic structures, including Brinegar Cabin, represent a well-preserved piece of early mountain life. Brinegar Cabin also features a demonstration garden showcasing what early settlers would have grown and survived on. The cabin is open to visitors on weekends through the early fall, staff permitting. Enjoy cultural demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. n Learn more and download your own map of Doughton Park, which clearly marks each of the main hiking trails, at www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/ doughton-park.htm.

Blue Ridge Conservancy Adds 65 acres of High Elevation Forest to Elk Knob State Park

After a three-year process, Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) recently added 65 acres to Elk Knob State Park. This steep tract, with elevations from 4,100 to 5,200 feet, includes the prominent south ridge of Elk Knob and is identified as one of the most important areas for biodiversity conservation in the state by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Funding for the project came from Fred and Alice Stanback and from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF).

“Adding this land to Elk Knob State Park is a long-awaited conservation win for North Carolina,” says Eric Hiegl, BRC’s Director of Land Protection and Stewardship. “Surveys indicated that the area is rich in pristine natural habitat, and its proximity to Elk Knob State Park made it a natural choice for protection. We are grateful to the Stanbacks and PARTF for recognizing its conservation value.” n Learn more at blueridgeconservancy.org.

Game Lands Transfer Expands Three Top Game Lands to 3,100 Acres

Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) recently transferred 615 acres of land to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) to become part of Three Top Mountain Game Land. With this transfer, BRC has conserved 1,000 acres at Three Top, bringing the total area to over 3,100 acres of protected land.

Important for conservation due to its biodiversity, and designated as “exceptional” by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, the Three Top Mountain Game Land addition includes over three miles of headwater streams of the North Fork New River and expands the protected range for wildlife habitat and migration corridors. The additional acreage also includes a new public access for recreational opportunities such as hiking, birding, and hunting.

“Acquiring land for public access and ecological protection has always been a priority for Blue Ridge Conservancy,” says BRC Executive Director Charlie Brady. “The significant expansion of Three Top Mountain Game Land provides permanent protection of large forested tracts, which are important in providing climate resiliency for many species.”

Three Top Mountain, named for its trio of prominent rock outcroppings, is part of the Amphibolite Mountain range. Located in Ashe and Watauga counties, the Amphibolites also include Howards Knob, Elk Knob, Snake Mountain, Phoenix Mountain, Paddy Mountain, and Mount Jefferson. n Learn more at blueridgeconservancy.org.