Hiking in the High Country BY MOSS BRENNAN
H
iking is a popular pastime in the High Country — with many trails and paths within a quick drive of many of the popular towns in the region. Edgar Peck, the director of the physical education activity program at App State, teaches a hiking class at the university. His hiking experience has taken him all over the High Country, but for him four hikes stand out the most. The first is the Table Rock Summit trail at Linville Gorge, which Peck said is a moderate 3-mile round trip to the summit and back. He said a person who hikes this trail will see “stunning” 360-degree long-range views. Peck said some key items to know about this trail is that the road to the Table Rock trailhead is a long, bumpy, gravel road. With a parking lot at the end. The road — Table Rock Mountain Road — can be reached via Hwy 181 south of Linville. The gate is typically open April-December barring bad weather, Peck said. If the gate is closed, the summit can also be reached via the Mountains to Sea trail 32
LEAVE NO TRACE OUTDOOR ETHICS 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose of Waste Properly 4. Leave What You Find 5. Minimize Campfire Impact 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN The view from the first stage on the popular Rough Ridge hike under the stars.
or Little Table Rock trail from the Spence Ridge Trailhead, which are both longer and harder routes. Peck said an alternative to the Table Rock Summit trail is Hawksbill Mountain trail, which Peck said is a moderate 2.4-mile
round trip out and back trail. He said it provides similar views with a less harrowing drive. The second trail Peck recommends is the Elk Knob State Park Summit trail, which is a moderate 4-mile trail to the summit and back. The trailhead is at Elk Knob
State Park, which closes at 8 p.m. in September and October, and at 6 p.m. in November. Peck said this trail will bring spectacular long-range views of the mountains and piedmont. On a clear day, Peck said hikers can see Pilot Mountain in the
distance. An alternative to this trail is the Beech Trail, which Peck said is an easy 1-mile loop through a beech tree forest. His third hike is a portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail — a moderate 6-mile round trip to the Wilson Creek Overlook and back. Peck said a hiker will see small waterfalls, interesting rock formations and the Linn Cove Viaduct from below. “This is a great trail to combine with a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Peck said. “For much of its route in the High Country the MST parallels the parkway. This also allows folks to choose virtually any distance. It is also one of the few High Country trails with mostly flat or gently rolling terrain.” The trailhead is at the Beacon Heights parking area at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Hwy 221. The alternative trail is Bea-
con Heights Overlook trail, which Peck said is an easy 1-mile round trip out and back trail to “amazing” views. His final trail recommendation is the Grandfather Mountain Crest trail, which he said is a difficult 8.5-mile round trip lollipop loop out to McRae Peak onto McRae Gap and back on the Underwood trail. The trailhead is at the Grandfather Mountain attraction visitor’s center and the purchase of an admission ticket to the Grandfather Mountain attraction in advance online is required. Peck said the hikers will see long-range views of the high country and mountain flora and fauna. He said this trail is difficult and requires climbing steep, long, wooden ladders on exposed rock faces. An alternative to this trail is the Daniel Boone Scout trail SEE HIKING ON PAGE 34
AUTUMN TIMES 2021
