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Nantahala
National Forest
Hiking Trails
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Attractions:
As the name implies, this trail follows a high, elongated rim around Fire's
creek. It features scenic views, heath and grassy balds, and a mixed hardwood
forest with rhododendron and wildflowers. The trail is blazed in blue, but
signs and blazes are sparse. Several side trails provide opportunities for
exploration or alternate access points. Most people begin the trail at the
Fire's Creek Picnic Area on the Trail to Leatherwood Falls. For a short
walk, the 0.7-mile loop trail turns left and returns to the parking lot;
the Rim Trail bends right and climbs to the ridge. Water is infrequent along
the trail, so be sure to carry an adequate supply.
Maps:
USGS quads: Andrews, Hayesville, Topton.
Directions:
From Hayesville, on U.S. 64W, take NC 1301 northeast 3 miles to NC 1300.
Then travel west 5.7 miles to FR 1344 (at Fire's Creek sign). Drive north
1.6 miles to Fire's Creek parking area.
Attractions:
The Upper Tellico area is a high-elevation basin formed by the Unicoi Mounatins.
It is one of the few areas in the national Forest in North Carolina where
off-road vehicles may be used. the ORV trails are a network of old logging
roads and skid trails that range from"easy" to "most difficult". the trails
are open to all uses--trail bikes, all-terrain vejicles, and four-wheel
drive vehicles--except one trail that is open to ATV use only. Some badly-eroded
routes have been closed to allow the land to heal and to protect water quality.
Maps:
Upper Tellico ORV Map
Directions:
From Murphy, go north on NC 1326 (Joe Brown Highway) for 2.8 miles.
Turn right on NC 1331 for 5.5 miles. Turn right on NC 1337 (Davis Creek
Rd.). Go 5 miles to the top of the mountain and Allen Gap staging area.
(NC 1337 becomes a gravel road--FR 420.)
Attractions:
The easy figure-8 loop trails wind through a dark, enchanetd forest, now
a part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, is dedicated as a living
monument to Joyce Kilmer. A memorial plaque, near the center of the grove
of huge trees, remembers the soldier and poet who was killed in action in
World War I at the age of 31. Kilmer's most famous poem is "Trees": "I think
that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree..." A small picnic area
and restroom are available near the trailhead parking area. Information
is dispensed from the car of a knowledgeable employee who can answer questions
and supply handouts from April to October.
Maps:
Nantahala National Forest, Joyce Kilmer Brochure.
Directions:
From Robbinsville, take NC 1116 (Massey Branch Rd.), off NC 129, about 2
miles. At the stop sign, turn right onto NC 1127 about 10 miles to Joyce
Kilmer Rd. Turn left at the signs.
Attractions:
This area around Snowbird Creek contains a network of over 37 miles of trails
ranging from 1.1 miles to 12.7 miles in length, and from "easy" to "most
difficult" in skill level. Big Snowbird watershed belonged to a lumber company
in the 1920's and '30's, and a narrow guage railroad extended up Snowbird
Creek. Like many places in the national forest, this land was acquired bu
the Federal government only after 100 million board feet of timber was removed.
Today, with time and careful management, the forest has regrown and the
creek, once muddied with silt, runs clear and sparkling again. Big Falls
and Middle Falls, 4 and 5 miles up the trail, make good destinations for
day hikes. Big Snowbird Trail (#64) crosses the stream seven times; during
heavy rainstorms these crossings may become impassable. An alternative trail,
64-A, requires only one stream crossing to reach Middle Falls.
Maps:
Snowbird Area Trail Map
Directions:
From the district office, turn left on to NC 116 and go 2.4 miles to a stop
sign. Turn right onto NC 1127, go 2 miles, and bear left at the fork-in-the-road
onto SR 115. Go 2.1 miles to where NC 1115 turns sharply left (just past
Robinson's Grocery). Make the turn and go 1 mile to a pair of bridges. At
the end of the second bridge, turn right on NC 1120; it becomes FR 75 (gravel).
Follow the gravel road about 6 miles to the end. The trailheads are at a
former logging camp.
Maps:
Tsali Recreation Area brochure, Noland Creek USGS Quad.
Directions:
Fom Bryson City, take US 19 S. 9 miles, turn right on NC 28 for 5.5 miles.
Turn right at the sign for Tsali Recreation Area on FR 521 (gravel) for
1.5 Miles.
Attractions:
The Standing Indian basin is a horseshoe-shaped drainage formed by the Nantahala
and Blue Ridge Mountains with several peaks over 5,000 feet high. A network
of trails leads to waterfalls and mountain peaks. Pickens Nose Trail (0.7
mile -nice name, huh?) climbs through mature oak forest to a promontory
on Brushy Ridge. Waslik Poplar Trail (0.6 mile) leads to the Nation's second
largest yelow-poplar tree. The Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the mountain
peaks for 32 miles through this area, and the trail passes in and out of
the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. You can use the AT to complete trail
loops. Over 16 miles of orange-blazed trail are open to horses. The trailhead
is signed to show the designated users. Primitive camping for horses is
availabke at Hurricane Creek beyond Standing Indian Campground, a developed
campground with showers, flush toilets and picnicking.
Maps:
Southern Nantahala Wilderness and Standing Indian Basin Map.
Directions:
From Franklin, take US 64W for 9 miles. Turn left on old 64 for 2 miles.
Turn right on FR 67 (gravel) toward Standing Indian Campground. There are
several trailheads.
Attractions:
This national recreation trail is rated "more difficult". From the trailhead,
the old roadbed to the left is a more gradual climb to the summit, while
the right branch goes up a steep set of stairs. Your effort is rewarded
by a magnificent view into South Carolina and over the Chatooga River headwaters
over 2100 feet below. the rock outcrops have an abundance of shrubs and
wildflowers, including three species of both rhododendron and azaleas. the
mountain summit stands at 4,930 feet. Whiteside Mountain, a landmark on
the eastern continental divide, has sheer cliffs rising up to 750 feet in
height. these cliffs are home to the endangered peregrine falcon that was
reintroduced back to it's native range beginning in 1985.
Maps:
USGS Highlands quad, Nantahala National Forest.
Directions:
From Highlands, take US 64E for about 5 miles. Turn right on NC 1680 (Whiteside
Mtn. Rd.) and follow the signs to the trailhead.
Two long-distance trails cross the Nantahala National Forest, the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Bartram Trail.
The AT, a national scenic trail, is a footpath that stretches 2,100 miles from Maine to Georgia. It is blazed in white with a chain of shelters spaced from 3 to 14 miles apart along the trail. Generally, it follows the ridgecrest of the Appalachian Mountains. Over 88 miles of the AT cross Nantahala National Forest from Fontana Dam to the Georgia State line. Detailed guidebooks for the AT are available at district offices or from the Appalachian Trail Conference, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807.
The Bartram Trail is a national recreation trail that travels across the Nantahala National Forest from the Nantahala Gorge east and south into Georgia. The trail takes it's name from William Bartram, a naturalist and explorer who roamed the southern wilderness from Florida to North Carolina 200 years ago.
Bartarm studied plants and animals and recorded many of his findings in a journal published as The Travels of William Bartram. The trail is blazed in yellow for over 70 miles as it crosses Nantahala National Forest.
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