Hiking

Hiking in the High Country

BY LILY KINCAID

Afavorite pastime of locals and tourists in the mountains alike is hiking. Trails around the High Country have a habit of showing off the extremely biodiverse region. Thousands of different species of plants, trees, mosses, fungi and lichen call the mountains of North Carolina home. Hikers in the region often

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stumble upon deer, birds, salamanders, frogs, rabbits and more.

From beginner and kid-friendly trails to vigorous treks for more experienced hikers, anyone can find an adventure suitable to their abilities in the High Country.

EASY

JUMPINOFF ROCKS TRAIL

Located in West Jefferson, this hike is just under a mile round trip and ends with a wonderful view of the mountains. This low-stakes hike is perfect for family outings and is easy enough that kids can tag along with no issue. The trail can be accessed at milepost 260.3 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

GREEN KNOB LOOP

Access this loop either at milepost 295.3 or 295.9 and take the 2.2 mile stroll around Sim’s Pond and Sim’s Creek. The trail crosses the creek in a few places, so be sure to wear waterproof shoes. This hike is a perfect all-in-one experience, as it includes wildflower meadows, valleys, peaks and dense forests.

PRICE LAKE LOOP

This hike is the more relaxed counterpart to the Boone Fork Trail or Tanawha Trail. The 2.7-mile loop cuts through rhododendron patches, includes boardwalks and bridges over the creek and follows around Price Lake. Located at milepost 297, this is a great way to experience Price Lake up close, and the mostly shaded trail is perfect for finding fungi along the way.

RHODODENDRON GARDENS NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL

For those not quite ready for the Appalachian Trail, Roan Mountain’s rhododendron gardens can be viewed from the

SEE HIKING ON PAGE 38 PHOTO BY ROB MOORE The view from Profile Trail of the profile about a third of the way up.

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HIKING

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Recreation Area. Visitors here must pay a $3 fee to park, but the path through the gardens and to the observation deck is paved and handicap accessible. This trail also includes restrooms and a picnic area, and is open from Memorial Day through the end of September.

MODERATE

RHODODENDRON TRAIL

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area offers several trails that can connect to make longer routes. The Rhododendron Trail is a 1.1-mile self-guided path that follows a ridge during the ascent and descends along the southside of the mountain. This trail can be combined with the Summit Trail for a more challenging 1.3-mile loop. The trail can be rocky and steep at some points, especially if combined with the Summit Trail.

BEACON HEIGHTS TRAIL

This 1-mile hike is brief, but that does not mean it is necessarily easy. Hikers reach the summit after just half a mile, so the ascent is quite steep. The view is worth it though, as Table Rock, Hawksbill Mountain, Grandmother Mountain and Grandfather Mountain can all be seen from the summit. This trail, which starts at milepost 305.2, is the beginning of the much more challenging Tanawha Trail, so be sure to follow the signs to stay on the Beacon Heights Trail.

GLEN BURNEY TRAIL

This trail may seem easy to some, but the climbing necessary to get back to the trailhead makes it hard for some hikers. The trail is 1.6 miles one way, meaning that once hikers descend to Glen Burney Falls and Glen Marie Falls, they must turn around and go back the way they originally came. However, as the trailhead is located at 243 Laurel Lane in Blowing Rock, hikers have a chance to grab dinner and a drink downtown after they finish.

Milepost 339.5 houses the entrance to Crabtree Falls, one of the most iconic waterfall hikes in North Carolina. The loop is just under 4 miles and goes by a 70-foot waterfall. The hardest part of the trail is the ascent to and descent from the base of the falls, which is at a steep incline.

STRENUOUS

SUMMIT TRAIL AT ELK KNOB

Elk Knob’s Summit Trail is a challenging 3.8-mile trek. Located at 5564 Meat Camp Road, the 2-mile climb to the top may be a deterrent to some visitors. However, at the top, climbers can see Grandfather Mountain, Mount Jefferson and Mount Mitchell. Visitors who aren’t quite prepared for the Summit Trail can still explore one of Elk Knob State Park’s easier trails, such as Beech Tree Trail and Maple Run Trail.

PROFILE TRAIL AT GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

The Profile Trail is one of the most popular ways to summit Grandfather Mountain. It begins at the Grandfather Mountain State Park parking lot at 4198 NC Highway 105 N in Tynecastle. From there, hikers should expect a 3.6-mile trek that winds through a handful of different habitat types on the mountain. The trail ends at Calloway Gap, where hikers can opt to continue another mile or so up to Calloway Peak, making the hike eight miles round trip.

TANAWHA TRAIL

Those in the market for a longer trip should stop at milepost 305.5 to venture on the 13.5-mile journey from Price Lake to Beacon Heights. This hike is mostly moderate, with the exceptions of the Linn Cove Viaduct and Rough Ridge sections. People planning to go on this hike need to plan ahead and bring two cars if possible, as the trail itself is long and does not loop. This trail includes a wonderful view of the surrounding mountain peaks, the Piedmont and the Linn Cove Viaduct.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HIKEWNC.INFO The Glen Marie Falls, which are located further down the Glen Burney Trail.

High Country fall foliage

A guide to fall leaves

BY MOSS BRENNAN

While the High Country is striking at any time of year, the golds and reds of the fall foliage in the mountains is a spectacular sight. Nature lovers can see the leaves changing from drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway or from the safety of a warm cabin, but the plentiful hiking trails in the mountains provide an immersive experience for hikers of all stripes.

There’s nothing quite like looking down from high up and seeing a canopy of oranges, reds, yellows and brown all mixed together to form the roof of the forest below.

Although the Blue Ridge Parkway does offer scenic drives, many stops along the roadway are accessible to hike up and through the mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is marked by white posts on the side of the road, and at Milepost 294 on the Parkway you can find the Rich Mountain Carriage, Horse and Hiking Trail at the Moses Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock which features the preserved farm house of Moses Cone Manor. For a longer hike, the Rich Mountain trail leads hikers on a moderate 6.3-mile loop along a ridgeline to a lake. For those opting for a shorter hike, right by the manor, visitors can find a 2.5-mile hike up to a climbable water tower with a breathtaking view of Boone and its surrounding areas.

Southwest of Boone, a variety of trails wind up Grandfather Mountain promising impressive views of fall foliage. The Profile Trail, a popular trail in the area, is located at 4198 NC Hwy 105 N and challenges hikers to a steep 1,775-foot ascent over the course of 3.6 miles ending at Calloway Peak. While the trail weaves through a

PHOTO BY SKIP SICKLER | GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION Grandfather Mountain invites leaflookers to see the brilliant change from one of the best leaf-looking destinations in the South.

dense hardwood canopy for much of the trail, hikers are greeted by clear, high views at Profile View and Foscoe View. With the descent, the Profile Trail is a little more than 7 miles roundtrip.

A shorter, yet still strenuous, hike up Grandfather Mountain is the Cragway Trail which connects the Nuwati and

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Daniel Boone Scout Trails at Grandfather Mountain State Park. This rocky hike is not recommended for pets.

One of the most infamous views of fall leaves on the parkway is via the Linn Cove Viaduct, a curved road with sweeping views over a mountain valley. For hikers looking to take in this view, the popular Rough Ridge Trail provides views of Grandfather Mountain, the Linn Cove Viaduct and Linville Gorge. To access this hike, stop at Milepost 302.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway and follow the trail signs up the hill to the right of the parking area.

Moving farther south, the heights of Linville Gorge offer extensive views of changing leaves in the High Country. While hikers can backpack overnight at Linville Gorge, a shorter day hike with outstanding views at Linville Gorge is the Table Rock hike. Table Rock is located 9.5

SEE GUIDE ON PAGE 42 The Appalachian Trail on Roan Mountain.

PHOTO BY DEREK HALSEY

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Autumn on the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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miles from Hwy. 181 and includes seven miles on a bumpy, gravel Pisgah National Forest service road leading to a wellfinished parking lot. A large rock outcropping towering over the gorge, Table Rock is wide and flat at the top providing room to take in the 360-degree view from the sky. The 2.2-mile round trip makes a steep ascent but brings hikers to a striking 3,930 foot peak by a relatively short trail.

Great views, however, do not always require craggy outcroppings or intense vertical ascents. Leaf lovers can view spectacular landscapes of fall foliage through the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains across the High Country. At Roan Mountain, nestled right by the North Carolina-Tennessee border, hikers can enjoy the bucolic landscape with a moderate 4.7-mile hike from Roan Highlands to Grassy Ridge Bald. While the hike may be moderate through the rolling hills, this hike has full summit views at Round Bald, Jane Bald and

HIKING RESOURCES

Hiking in the High Country is for people of all experience levels! Nevertheless, these resources can help the most experienced hikers as well as those just beginning to cultivate a love of the trail. www.fs.usda.gov https://www.ncparks.gov/ https://www.alltrails.com/ https://ashevilletrails.com/ https://appalachiantrail.org/

Grassy Ridge Bald. To start the hike, hikers begin at the Carvers Gap trailhead just over the border in Tennessee at TN-143, Roan Mountain, Tenn.

Between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Mountains, the High Country has an abundance of high peaks and hilltops from which autumn hikers can appreciate the fall colors. While these trails represent a variety of skillsets and options for hikers, even the most experienced trail lovers will find themselves discovering new paths in the High Country each fall.

PHOTO BY SKIP SICKLER | GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION Fall color is bountiful at Grandfather Mountain.