Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly is a full-service conference center situated on 1,200 acres of woodland beautified by mountain streams, wildflowers, ridges, valleys and spectacular views. What is little known about the property is the extensive hiking trail system. Primary among these is the High Windy Trail, a 1,600 foot climb to scenic views of Black Mountain, Montreat, Greybeard, and Mt. Mitchell. While you’re there, enjoy the rich history of the YMCA Assembly, built in 1906. The Assembly is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This hike occurred on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Our plan was to take the High Windy Trail up to the overlook on the 4,350′ summit, then return on the Carolina Loop Trail visiting the Mt. Mitchell overlook along the way.

The drive into the grounds of the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly is a beautiful single lane loop surrounded by overhanging trees and manicured lawns that double as a frisbee golf course. I had no idea this large complex was tucked away in the hills above Black Mountain, NC. At the top of the hill stands the massive Robert E. Lee Hall, an enormous dormitory with massive white columns that were so popular in early 20th century architecture. The entire campus harkens back to a quieter time more than 100 years ago.

Park in the lot above the Blue Ridge Center and below Lee Hall. If you walk into the Center, there is a reception desk that has maps of the property and trails. Remember as you set out on your hike that this is private property, owned by the YMCA. So be on your best behavior. Don’t do anything that would ruin the privilege for future hikers, and of course, practice Leave No Trace.

Climb the stairs to Lee Hall and walk around the building on either side on Cottage Circle to the back of the building. You’ll have a remarkable view of this stately old hall. That’s the photo at the top of this post. From the rear of Lee Hall, the road continues up the hill a couple hundred yards past the amphitheater and on to the trailhead, a well-signed location denoting all the trails found on the mountain above. For this hike, we took the High Windy Trail.

There are several trail junctions along the way. If you continue to bear right, sticking with the High Windy signs and red blaze, you will remain on the outer loop that goes all the way to the top. Some of the inner loops make for nice shorter hikes, but we know you want to see the sights from the summit. 3/4 mile up, for example, is the junction with the west side of the Carolina Loop. That’s the trail you’ll be on later for the east side descent.

Not far past this junction you’ll reach a log storm shelter. It’s the only one I saw, so if you happen to get trapped out in bad weather, hope it’s on this side of the loop. The trail takes another right fork up High Windy at the shelter. From here, it’s a long, hard uphill pull. In winter, when the leaves are down, you would be able to see the surrounding mountains off in the distance as you climb. Not so in the green months.

The higher we got, the more wildflowers we saw. Particularly, periwinkle was out in abundance. There were various shades of blue, white and yellow flowers.

About a half mile from the top we reached one last junction, this one with the road that ascends the summit. Originally used by those who maintained the transmission tower that used to top the summit of High Windy, it only sees the footprints of hikers these days. This will be your only left turn on this hike.

When you reach the summit of High Windy, you’ll see the decommissioned transmission tower on your left. The satellite pods have been removed from the tower and simply laid upon the ground, now surrounded by heavy weeds. The summit is 4,350 feet and is relatively flat. On the eastern end is an old chimney, a remnant of a bygone era.

Beyond the chimney is the overlook, with a view to the east of the community of Black Mountain. There’s a rocky outcropping near the overlook, shaded by the trees, that was an ideal spot for us to enjoy lunch. On this day, High Windy didn’t live up to its name, as there wasn’t even so much as a breeze.

Refreshed from our nourishment, it was time to head back down. There is a trail below the summit that descends the eastern slope, but it is no longer maintained. Since we had never been here before, we decided it best to stick with the trails on our map, so we returned on the service road.

Just as on the way up, the idea on the way down is to take all the right forks to remain on the outer loop. There are also signs pointing to the Blue Ridge Assembly. Follow those and you can’t go wrong. About a mile down from the summit you will reach another overlook, this one with a great view of Montreat and Greybeard Mountain across the valley. We hiked there before.

Just a little beyond this lower overlook we took a detour to another overlook. When we reached the orange-blazed Carolina Loop Trail we turned right, up the hill, on an old dirt road. This winds through a construction area for about half a mile. Whatever construction was considered up here, they changed their mind, because now it’s just a torn up mess. The walk is worth it though, for the view of Mt. Mitchell and Greybeard at the end of the road.

Backtrack down the construction road to the Carolina Loop and resume your descent. You will now follow a stream down the mountain, creating a delightful backdrop to the other mountain sounds. We did not encounter any other hikers, but this stretch on the Carolina Loop is where you would be most likely to meet exercise walkers. It isn’t as steep on this side of the loop, so most of the walkers go up the east side.

Near the bottom, the Carolina Loop joins the blue-blazed Wolfpit Circle Trail and crosses the creek that has been following your descent. You will reach a gate in the road that you walk around, and then you return to paved road. Just a few hundred yards more and you are back to Lee Hall.

From the front of Lee Hall, looking north and east is a stunning view of The Great Craggy Mountains, home to Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway. By now it was early afternoon, and the hustle and bustle at the Blue Ridge Assembly had picked up considerably since our morning departure. I am so excited to find this place. I simply had no clue of its existence.

To summarize, when you come to the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, come prepared for a strenuous hike, and a strong sense of history. The old buildings on the campus are remarkable, and the trail to High Windy is quite enjoyable. It was a wonderful way to spend four hours on a late summer day.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

Perhaps you’re looking for a short hike that will really stretch your legs and get your heart pounding. Then you may want to consider the Pressley Cove/Maxwell Cove loop that is not too far from the Pisgah Ranger District headquarters. You’ll climb more than 1,400 feet in just a little over a mile through a beautiful poplar, oak and beech one-age forest. Follow Pressley Creek on the way up, and Maxwell Creek on the way back down, with a stretch on the ridge at the top that offers views of the Blue Ridge Parkway far in the distance. This hike occurred on Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 10:30am to 1:05pm. Our plan was to climb Pressley Cove Trail to its meeting with Forest Road 5002, then return down the Maxwell Cove Trail.

Forest Road 477 is also known as Avery Creek Road, or the road where the horse stables are. There are a number of trailheads and campsites along 477, including this short hike up Pressley Cove. Keep your eyes peeled for the trailhead marker on the right side of the road about two miles in. It’s easy to miss. If you reach the stables you have gone too far.

Think of this trail as a connector to many other longer trails that follow the creeks and streams, exploring the gaps and ridges of the Pisgah Ranger District. For example, you can get to Buckhorn Gap and Clawhammer Cove, or if you want to make a full day of it, you can get to the Turkey Pen Gap Trail to South Mills River.

Orange-blazed Pressley Cove Trail starts climbing right away, but at a moderate grade to get your legs and lungs warmed up for what’s to come. The first 2/3 of the hike keeps Pressley Creek on the right side of the trail, passing through several rhododendron thickets as they make a canopy over the trail. The forest is thick with young beech saplings, evidence that this area was heavily logged back in the previous century. Sprinkle in some hemlock and oak, a few poplars and birch, and this a a thick new-growth forest.

The pitch of the trail gets a little steeper after a quarter mile. The trail builders have put in log stairways to assist with the incline. You can decide for yourself whether the burning in your thighs from the stair climbing is easier than graded terrain with a steady ascent.

When you reach the first crossing of Pressley Creek is when this hike begins getting really interesting, and strenuous. That first crossing is a three-log bridge with wire mesh over the cracks that’s about 12 feet long. For the rest of the way the trail follows very close to the creek, a narrow ribbon that tumbles steeply down from the mountain above over granite shelves and slabs, creating that beautiful forest sound of rushing water.

And it gets steep. Expect to climb 600 feet in the final 3/8 mile. Take your time. Enjoy your surroundings. Between the silvery creek and the tall stands of tulip poplar, the last third of Pressley Cove Trail is a delight. The forest bed is covered with a thick coat of fallen leaves from autumn seasons past. You’ll encounter more of the log stairways as you climb steeply up, up, up.

You’ll reach a 2nd log crossing, this one back to the west side of Pressley Creek, at a particularly steep section of trail. The creek plunges down a slick black granite slide, while the old rotting log bridge doesn’t look particularly inviting, or safe. It’s just a flash flood from being washed away, and probably has. That may explain the seemingly make-shift condition of the crossing.

Once safely across there’s another log staircase on the other side that leads to a change in the forest. You’ll notice the trees are taller here, and older. Some of the tulip trees are well-near 100 feet high as they stretch and compete for those nourishing rays of sunshine. You’ll top a crest where the trail flattens for just a bit as you’re walking among tall giants on each side of you.

One final push upward will bring you to the junction with Forest Road 5022. As you approach you’ll see the road bed taking off uphill to the southeast to Pressley Gap and all the other trails that are found up there. But for this hike, my companion and I took a left turn on the forest road.

Forest Road 5022 was carved into the side of the very steep south face of Black Mountain. There are thick granite slabs to your right going up the mountain, and a precipitous fall to your left over the edge of the road. In the winter, with leaves off the trees, we caught an occasional glimpse of the snow-lined Blue Ridge Parkway across the Cradle of Forestry valley.

The road is very twisty as it hangs along the ledge below Black Mountain. Rounding one turn we happened upon a long wall of granite that was literally covered in icicles, for perhaps 200 yards or more. Lined up in rows as from a pipe organ, these shimmering crystal daggers were dripping from the warming southeast sun. This has been a mild winter in Western North Carolina. I suspect in years when it gets colder that this layered wall is completely covered in ice.

My friend and I started thinking about lunch, so we found some great logs right where Forest Road 5022 passed over Maxwell Creek. This creek would be our path down the mountain later when we reached the junction with the Maxwell Cove Trail. The creek is right in a hairpin in 5022 where the road takes a decidedly southerly turn. After nourishing ourselves, we continued along the forest road.

It begins a downward trend and makes a couple more hairpin turns before reaching Maxwell Cove. You really have to look closely for this trail on your left. It is not on the Pisgah Forest maps. There is an old wooden sign at the trailhead, but it’s rotting and pelted with buckshot — unreadable. There are no blaze markers on the trees. Just be aware that it is there. Not to fret if you completely miss it though. Forest Road 5022 will eventually take you back to Avery Creek Road.

Maxwell Cove Trail begins descending immediately, much like Pressley Cove Trail did on the way up. Not far down the trail, we happened upon a large rock outcropping to our left that was worth exploring. As we got closer, we could see that it was comprised of three very large granite rocks, each of which were surrounded by its own “friend.” Roots of trees were wrapped around the rocks creating a cocoon-like effect. That’s the photo at the top of this post. You can click it for a larger view.

Continuing down, the earth changed to a red clay mixture that wanted to cling to the grids in our hiking boots. Don’t you hate it when that happens? We could hear the sound of rushing water again, so we knew we were getting close to Maxwell Creek.

Unlike on Pressley Cove, this trail does not have log bridges over the creek. You are on your own to navigate the crossings. There are two crossings, the first probably 15 feet across. The water was no more than four inches deep, so no worries about flooding the inside of the boots. At least it helped get some of the clay mud off the bottoms. The rocks are moss covered, so watch your step.

We soon came upon a small meadow along the trail with about 6-8 dogwood trees. I imagine this is a delightful sight in late April, in fact I may have to make plans to come back just for that. It’s only about a quarter mile from Avery Creek Road, so I could pop in there for a few photos on my way to another hike.

There’s one last creek crossing before reaching the end of the trail. This one is a little dicier, as the creek has kinda split into channels, one of which is using the trail as a path. So you have to walk through water for about 30 feet. We were fortunate that it was still not deeper than our boot tops, so we managed to get through with dry feet. Just beware that this is there, in case you are hiking after a heavy rain.

Maxwell Cove Trail ends at a gate on Avery Creek Road that is marked as Forest Road 9999. Again, it does not appear on the Pisgah Forest trail maps. From there, it’s only a few hundred yards back to the Pressley Cove trailhead, and your vehicle.

To summarize, this cove loop is a really good leg stretcher. You will get some great aerobic exercise on the steep sections of Pressley Cove, but won’t be out in the woods all day. The forest and streams are beautiful no matter the season, so if you’ve got 2-3 hours to kill, consider taking the Pressley Cove and Maxwell Cove loop.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

Montreat is a small community just north of Black Mountain, NC with a world renowned conference center, a college, and best for us, 20 miles of hiking trails that rival those in nearby Pisgah National Forest for quality and scenery. In particular, the Greybeard Trail is an exceptional workout that climbs more than 2300 feet to the summit of Greybeard Mountain on the Blue Ridge Escarpment where there are stunning views of Mt. Mitchell and its other 6000′ brethren. The trails are contained within private conservation land known as Boggs Memorial Wilderness and hiking is open to the public. This hike occurred on Thursday, September 29, 2011 from 9:45am to about 3:45pm. The plan was to take the Greybeard Trail from Montreat to the summit of Greybeard Mountain with stops at Greybeard Falls and Walker’s Knob along the way. We would then make a loop hike by descending along the West Ridge Trail to the junction with Big Piney Ridge Trail and a return to Montreat.

View Greybeard, West Ridge, and Big Piney Ridge Trails, Montreat in a larger map

The trail system in Montreat is on private land owned by the Montreat Conference Center and maintained by the Montreat Cottagers, the Mountain Retreat Association, and the Montreat Landcare Committee. Montreat has 13 hiking trails totaling more than 20 miles. Of Montreat’s 4,000 acres, 2,500 acres are dedicated to wilderness and are entered in the North Carolina Registry of Natural Heritage Areas. It goes without saying that we should all leave this beautiful, pristine wilderness as we found it. We are invited guests on this land, and should behave as such, so the public will always be welcome. Be sure to follow the Montreat trail system rules and regulations.

The blue blazed Greybeard Trail starts off nice right off the bat with a beautiful wooden bridge over Slaty Branch. On this day in late September there was a covering of yellow leaves on the bridge and foot path that led the way into the hardwood forest. It’s a long climb up Greybeard Mountain and the up began right away, but it was gradual and not immediately tiring. The trail follows and crosses Flat Creek several times through a very quiet forest with lots of songbirds and squirrels. The forest floor is covered with fern and galax, and there are plentiful rhododendron and laurel thickets throughout. There are signs around warning of black bears, but we ran into another hiker who was coming down who said he had never seen a bear in four years of hiking these trails. About a mile up the trail there is a tastefully done bronze plaque in a rock dedicated to Lou and Wade Boggs, designating this area as the Boggs Memorial Wilderness.

1.5 miles into the climb we reached a plateau where the trail entered a series of long, relatively flat switchbacks. This is Pot Cove Gap. Here was our first opportunity to see a view of the surrounding Blue Ridge. There is a break in the trees that enables a long distance view to the east of the Iron Mountain Ridge. The switchbacks go on for nearly a mile, but it was a nice break from the earlier climbing, and from the steeper climbing that laid ahead. At the last switchback turn is a very short spur trail to Greybeard Falls, a small slide-type waterfall that didn’t have much water on this autumn day.

Not much further up is another spur trail, this one perhaps 300 yards, that goes to the old Trestle Road and Old Mount Mitchell Toll Road. The only trestle we saw was partially buried in Flat Creek. There isn’t much to see, and you may want to skip this unless you are a mountain biker. Trestle Road is a good bike trail and biking is not allowed on Greybeard Trail.

Greybeard Trail begins climbing again and reaches Walker’s Knob Shelter, an excellent overnight camp spot that was built in 1984. There is room for large groups in the shelter, and there is a large fire ring with benches, and even a grill. Be sure to make reservations back in Montreat at the Nature Center. The Walker’s Knob spur trail is 0.2 mile to one of the best views on the hike. From Walker’s Knob we could see our eventual destination, Greybeard Mountain. We could also see the downward side of the loop, the West Ridge Trail, a long roller coaster descent. To the south is the town of Black Mountain, and to the east the beautiful and unforgettable Blue Ridge. No matter how many times I see ridge after ridge lined up as far as the eye can see, I still love the compelling beauty of these mountains. It’s why I continue to make my home here. There was a nice sprinkling of red, orange and yellow within the forest, though peak leaf peeping is still a couple weeks away. There is a rock outcropping on Walker’s Knob and that’s where we had our lunch. We reached this spot in two hours-15 minutes.

Back to the shelter, and then another 1.25 miles all uphill to the false summit of Greybeard Mountain. Here was a wooden fence built like a cattle corral, and the junction of three trails. The reason for the bizarre fencing is the Asheville Watershed. The watershed is to the west and runs into the North Fork Reservoir. They really don’t want you hiking or otherwise messing around in the watershed, so just stay on the trails and you’ll be good. To the left, or southwest, is the West Ridge Trail (our eventual descent path), and to the right (north) is the spur trail to the summit of Greybeard Mountain.

It’s only 0.3 mile to the summit and the first two-tenths is flat, but the last tenth mile climbs another 200 feet. After all the climbing we had already done, this was a bit of a bummer, but it was definitely worth it. The summit of Greybeard, at 5408 feet, offered our first look to the north. There before us was the massive expanse of Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi at over 6600 feet. That’s the photo at the top of this post. We could see the state park that surrounds the mountain as well as the other 6000′ peaks in the area like Blackstock Knob, Potato Knob, Mt. Gibbes, and Clingmans Peak with its three radio towers. To the east is another beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Escarpment.

By now it was 1:30 in the afternoon and there was a warning sign back at the false summit that said not to begin the West Ridge Trail late in the day. It is very rugged country, rocky, with lots of roller coaster ups and downs across fins and outcroppings. We would later learn that sign is excellent advice. You would definitely not want to be on this trail, or the Big Piney Ridge Trail, after dark. Meanwhile, the grey blazed West Ridge Trail is very beautiful and loads of fun. Through the forest of oak and maple, chestnuts and hickory, and abundant mountain ash we could see the Craggy Mountains on the west side of the trail, and the ridge we climbed on the east. The ridge the trail follows is known as Seven Sisters Ridge, forms the Buncombe/McDowell county line, and is part of the Black Mountain Range. We passed one other hiker and her dog, a student at Montreat College. No, not her dog silly.

About half way down, the trail goes across a large outcrop known as Rattlesnake Rock. My companion and I, thinking like Meanderthals, didn’t want to know how it got its name, but be assured we kept one eye toward the ground and our ears peeled while we stopped to take in the stunning sights. The view here is similar to that on Walker’s Knob, just several hundred feet lower. It was about this point we began noticing downed barbed wire along the trail for the next half mile or so. This is no doubt left from fences that were there to protect the watershed. Just beware the barbed wire is there. It is a tripping hazard.

After 2.5 miles the West Ridge Trail reaches a junction with Big Piney Ridge Trail, the way back to the beginning. Here the trail blaze changes to orange. Not far down Big Piney is a nice view back up at Greybeard Mountain, and down to Montreat. It was interesting to see how far we had come down, and how much farther down we still had to go. What sticks out most with me is steep, steep, steep. Between our soreness and whining, my friend and I were debating whether we would rather go down this stretch, or climb up; in other words, do the loop the opposite direction. Neither of us are spring chickens, and the miles were taking their toll. He argued he would rather go up, because the really steep downhill was very hard on his knees. My thinking concluded we were going the right direction — trying to go up this slope would burn the lungs. We were both right, and wrong, but before we knew it we were back to Greybeard Trail Rd.

It’s about a quarter mile up the road to the trailhead parking area. On the other side of the street from the parking is the Walk C. Jones III Wildlife Sanctuary. There is a trail that goes into the sanctuary and around the Montreat Reservoir. The reservoir, really more like a pond, was perfectly still and reflecting the surrounding trees and sky. There were yellow leaves floating on the surface, making for a tranquil and relaxing setting after six hours of hiking. On the far side of the reservoir is a large gazebo, called the Environmental Education Pavilion. It is big enough to seat probably two dozen folks in a circle for a little kumbaya.

My friend and hiking companion introduced me to Montreat. Even though I have lived in western North Carolina for six years, it had escaped my radar. He knew nothing about it either, only what he had read in Joe Miller’s 100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina. I’m glad he found it, and thanks to Joe Miller. The Greybeard Trail is an excellent hike that gave us a good workout, enjoyable creeks and forest, and beautiful scenic vistas. Thanks to the people of Montreat who willingly share this beauty with us, and with you.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

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 to the Bennett Gap Trail where there are terrific views of the surrounding mountains and plutons. The western half of the loop follows Coontree Creek and crosses it several times. This hike occurred on September 16, 2010 beginning at 9:00AM and ending about 12:30PM. The plan was to take the Coontree Loop Trail counterclockwise to the junction with Bennett Gap Trail, continue on to Bennett Gap, then return for the western half of the loop.

During winter and on weekdays there are plenty of parking places at the Coontree Picnic Area. However, weekends in the summer are another matter. This is a popular destination for families with young children. So if you want a place to park you need to get there early. Just 1/3 mile into the hike there was a decision: take the Coontree Loop clockwise, or counterclockwise. I have done both, and I can’t say I see an advantage either way. On this particular day we chose to take the eastern fork on the way up the mountain. The loop trail itself was a forest trail. If you are looking for scenic mountain views, you won’t find them on Coontree Loop. That’s the reason for extending the hike to Bennett Gap. That trail was along the top of a ridge, and afforded the view in the picture at the top of this post.

The eastern half of the blue blazed loop started with a gradual climb for the first 1/2 mile, but definitely increased its steepness. The forest on the eastern side of the trail was decidedly hemlock, unfortunately afflicted significantly by the woolly adelgid blight that has affected the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Approximately a mile up from the trail fork we attained the ridge. Here, the Coontree Loop Trail and the Bennett Gap Trail became one and the blaze changes to red. Turning to the left, as we did, continued up Coontree Mountain. Turning right leads downhill to Presley Cove and eventually the Pisgah Horse Stables. The climbing was not over at this point though. The ridge continued upward several hundred more feet through a large oak forest to the skirt of Coontree Mountain. At one point, the breeze picked up and we had to duck for cover from a deluge of mature acorns. Plunk. Here Bennett Gap Trail split from the loop trail and continued northerly.

The climb was less than 100 feet more from this point, and the reward was this remarkable view of the eastern face of Looking Glass Rock from the Bennett Gap Trail, plus a great place to have lunch. At that time of year, with the trees full, I had to do my Meanderthal bit and climb part way up a tree to get the photos I wanted. There was a perfectly placed rocky outcropping on the right of the trail where we all plopped down to rest after the climb, and munch on sandwiches and apples. To the right of the trail we could see Clawhammer and Black Mountains side by side, as well as unfortunately the Duke Energy power transmission lines that follow Perry Cove between the ridges.

Bennett Gap Trail passes the Perry Cove Trail on the right at Saddle Gap and continues for another mile to Forest Service Road 477. This section follows a northwesterly ridge that is mostly flat. There were occasional views through the trees on both sides of the ridge; of Looking Glass to the west and the Blue Ridge to the east. The trail ends at the forest road. Other than that, there is no significance in continuing to the end. On this day we turned back the way we came about 1/4 mile from the forest road.

The downward hike on the westward side of the Coontree Loop seemed steeper than it was on the way up. Again, I’ve done this hike in both directions and I didn’t find either to be excessively steep going up. They just seemed steeper to me coming back down. The trail was a red clay in spots, kind of unusual for this part of the country. The forest was quite different on this side of the loop as well. If you’re looking for a blooming rhododendron hike in late May, the west side of Coontree Loop was loaded with rhodies. There were fewer hemlock and more hardwoods on that side as well.

The last mile of the downward plunge took us across Coontree Creek several times. None of the crossings required the removal of footwear, they all had log bridges or strategically placed rocks. The west side of the loop is a little bit longer distance wise, so it took us longer to get down than to go up, but not by much. We returned to the fork in the trail and a couple more log crossings before again reaching the parking lot. This had been a somewhat windy day, and upon our return to the car, we found it covered from stem to stern with pine needles. I expect the same spot in spring would find the car buried in yellow pollen. I love the great outdoors!

Update August 1, 2017

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve hiked Coontree Loop. This report still had one of the old original hand drawn maps. So at the least I thought I should update the report with a more contemporary GPS trail track. While I’m at it, here are some new photos from our most recent adventure on the Coontree Loop.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.