Residents of western Transylvania and other counties in Western North Carolina may see military planes conducting wilderness firefighting training operations in the upcoming week over remote parts of Pisgah National Forest. Military pilots from the North Carolina Air National Guard will participate in the annual training in the Carolinas that enables them to assist with...
Learn MoreOne of four ecologically significant tracts of privately held land adjacent to Pisgah National Forest might soon become part of the national forest. In a recent announcement, the U.S. Forest Service said it was dedicating $40.6 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for 27 “exceptional land acquisition projects” in 15 states that will help safeguard clean...
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The forecast called for nasty thunderstorms beginning at noon, so we opted for a shortish hike up Bennett Gap Trail to the Saddle Gap Overlook on Coontree Mountain. Starting at the trailhead along the Stable Road in Pisgah National Forest at 8:30AM, it was a touch foggy, but otherwise a delightful cool morning. As we headed up to Coontree Gap we noticed signs of the...
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North Mills River Recreation Area in Pisgah National Forest, along with its brother along South Mills River, has a rich trail system. It covers the Pisgah Ridge at the Blue Ridge Parkway down to the North Mills River. A combination of trails leading from the Trace Ridge Trailhead at the recreation area go up, over, and around Coffee Pot Mountain on the way up to the...
Learn MoreThe U.S. Forest Service plans to implement a 1,200-acre prescribed burn in the Bearpen Mountain area of the Pisgah Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest, on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the weather. The burn will take two to three days to complete and will be confined to Bearpen Mountain. The southern end of the burn will be U.S. Highway 276 at the intersection of...
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Transylvania County, NC is known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” and for good reason. There are more than 250 waterfalls in the county, with many of the most spectacular falls in the heart of DuPont State Forest. Included among those are Bridal Veil and Grassy Creek Falls, both classic slide waterfalls that carve their way over large granite slabs. DuPont also...
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More than 5 million people hit the trails in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests last year — a number that continues to grow not only as more people move to the mountains but also as outdoor recreation increases in popularity. The use of trails is at an all-time high, but the money to maintain them is shrinking. The Catch-22 has prompted the forest service to...
Learn MoreSometimes, removing a few trees is good for the forest — at least when it comes to wildlife habitat. That’s the idea behind a wildlife habitat enhancement project under way on national forest land in Madison County, one of a number of such initiatives planned in the mountains to benefit species ranging from bears to songbirds. The project, on 15 acres in an area known...
Learn MoreA black bear caused property damage in the Turkeypen Trailhead area in the Pisgah Ranger District near the Transylvania/Henderson County line. Property has been destroyed by bear activity at a campsite near the intersection of South Mills River Trail (#133) and Poundingmill Trail (#349). Campers, hikers and others visiting the national forests should practice safety at...
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Looking for a hike that includes streams and rivers, hardwood and conifer forests, plentiful rhododendron, and some climbing for good measure? Then the trails along South Mills River that embark from the Turkeypen Trailhead may be just the ticket. Situated in the southeastern corner of Pisgah National Forest, the Mills River Area is the largest in the Pisgah Ranger...
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Perhaps the most popular hike in the Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, the Looking Glass Rock Trail is a good 3-mile leg stretcher to the top of the famous pluton. Probably not the most scenic hike is the area, but definitely popular because of ease of access, and a little less difficulty than some of the steeper monoliths. Looking Glass Rock is home to...
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Most of the attention in Linville Gorge is focused on the northern features. There are more trails, higher peaks, and family recreation areas. But the south gorge is every bit as compelling and beautiful, with spectacular panoramic views up the gorge and westward to Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shortoff Mountain is a thousand feet lower than its...
Learn MoreFri, Sep 30 10:00 AM Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 420 – Black Balsam parking area Join a ranger for a 2.5 mile round trip hike to the top of Sam Knob Summit. The 570-foot elevation gain of this moderate-to-strenuous hike is well worth the effort for the spectacular views from the top. Learn more about this mountain “bald” and see the beginnings of the colorful...
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Kind of an unusual name for the mountain this trail is named after, but it is at 5200 feet, so the snow comes earlier in the season, and more frequently than in the valleys below. North of Asheville, NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this hike is in the Craggy Gardens area. There are splendid views of the Great Craggy Mountains and the Black Mountains from the three summits...
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Flat Laurel Creek is in the area just north of the Pisgah Ridge and in between the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wildernesses. It drains from Sam Knob and Little Sam Knob and runs to the West Fork of the Pigeon River. The trail that bears its name starts at the headwater and travels 3.7 miles around the west side of Little Sam until it meets Hwy. 215 and joins the...
Learn MoreHumans aren’t the only ones getting excited about blueberry season in the mountains. So are the black bears. Land managers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mount Mitchell State Park and in the Pisgah National Forest have closed campsites and hiking trails due to increased bear activity, and want to remind visitors not to further tempt bears by leaving...
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Went hiking on the Coontree Loop to Bennett Gap in Pisgah National Forest today. It was a nice mild day, but very, very humid. There had been significant rainfall yesterday as the trail was still quite wet, but surprisingly Coontree Creek didn’t have much water in it. In the photo, I paused for a moment while crossing the creek. The view from Bennett Gap of Looking...
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Looking at a trail map or topographic map, the area of this hike within Shining Rock Wilderness can be somewhat confusing. There is the Greasy Cove Prong, a creek that runs off of the Grassy Cove Ridge. The trail is called Greasy Cove, but it starts/ends at Grassy Cove Top. I think the guys who named the area may have had a touch too much huckleberry wine. Regardless of...
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Explorer William Linville and his sons were scalped by Indians in 1766 in what would eventually become known as Linville Gorge. I do believe I’d be fine with going through life not having anything named for me. The Linville Gorge Wilderness in Avery County, NC was one of the first protected areas in the country under the Wilderness Act of 1964. I’ve enjoyed...
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Frequently. That is how many times I have done this hike. So many, I’ve lost count. I love the western North Carolina high country, and this area along the Blue Ridge Parkway known as Black Balsam has nearly a dozen peaks over 5800 feet elevation, with Black Balsam Knob being the highest at 6214. This area has some of the highest hiking on the Parkway. Many of these...
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Coontree is a popular picnic area for familes along Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest, NC. What most of them probably don’t know though, is that there is a nice hiking trail just across Hwy. 276 from the parking area. It is very easy to get to, as it is only five miles from the crossroads in Brevard, NC. The trail itself is a loop with a connector at the top...
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, publisher of Meanderthals, and a passionate hiker. I live in western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my doorstep, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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