Deep at the southern tip of DuPont State Forest is an area loved by mountain bikers, but also a nice place for scenic forest, riverside, and small mountain hiking. The elevation is in the 2800-3000 foot range, so it’s ideal for winter hiking where you’re not likely to get deep snow like the 6000′ peaks in the nearby national forest. Start with a lovely forested hike around Burnt Mountain, then follow calm, meandering Little River as it heads toward the exciting waterfalls downstream. Finish your day with a climb up Cedar Rock for excellent long distance views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. This hike occurred on Friday, November 2, 2012 from 10:30am to 1:30pm. Our plan was to take the Burnt Mountain loop, then follow the Little River Trail to the meeting with Cedar Rock Trail. We would then do the loop up and over Cedar Rock.

There was a lot of snow in the high country, evidence of the tremendous reach of superstorm Sandy. Reports from The Smokies had three feet on Mt. LeConte and four feet on Clingman’s Dome. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed all the way from The Smokies to Asheville, and then again in the Craggy and Black Mountains. With that in mind, I thought it best to stick to a lower elevation hike just a few days after the storm. DuPont State Forest is always a good option for winter hiking.

DuPont has beautiful mountain scenery, just on a smaller scale. Instead of 6000 feet, the tallest peaks are in the 3500′ range. Instead of air temperatures as much as 20° colder in the high country, and wind gusts that will chill your bones, DuPont is about the same as valleys in the area. Call me a winter hiking wimp. I just don’t like dangerous conditions.

After hiking the whole month of October by myself, it was great to have one of my Meanderthals companions back for this foray into the southwest corner of DuPont. We waited a bit for the morning sun to warm things up to about 50°, then arrived at the Corn Mill Shoals trailhead on Cascade Lake Road at about 10:30. Parking is on the right side of the road and the trailhead is on the left.

Even at this lower elevation around 2700′, nearly all the leaves were off the trees — another testament to the fierce winds we received from Sandy — despite being 600 miles away. While certainly not as pretty and picturesque as what I’ve been finding in recent weeks, I always try to remind myself of one advantage of winter hiking. With all the leafless trees it is easy to see through the forest for views that simply don’t exist during other seasons.

Corn Mill Shoals Trail is a wide old roadbed that ambles through a mixed forest of typical Western North Carolina hardwoods and evergreens. That’s the photo at the top of this post. It’s the entry point to all the other great trails in this southern corridor of the state forest. It’s about 1/2 mile to the first junction with Burnt Mountain Trail, but if you go another couple hundred yards you will reach the other entrance to the Burnt Mountain loop.

This eastern trailhead takes the loop in a clockwise direction, one that offers a moderate, less severe ascent of Burnt Mountain. Beware, though, that by taking the trail clockwise you will be traveling the same direction as the mountain bikers, so keep your ears and eyes open behind you. It didn’t take long for us to be reminded as we encountered the first pair of bikers coming from our rear not far up the Burnt Mountain Trail.

Unlike what would be coming later on Cedar Rock, there isn’t really much to see on Burnt Mountain. It’s a tree-covered summit, and the trail kinda winds around the summit anyway. The mountain bikers love it though, as it’s a moderately sloped single track climb of about 250 feet, that then falls precipitously on the downhill side. The total length of the loop is just about a mile. As a hiker, be careful on the downside, it is pretty steep. A local mountain biking club has done a nice job of shoring up this steep section of trail.

Upon returning to the Corn Mill Shoals Trail, just head 50 feet to your right for the junction with Little River Trail and the next section of this hike. Take the left junction. This trail follows Little River, about 25 yards away, but you might not know it as the river is very calm and quiet through this section of the forest. Contrast that with what Little River becomes just a short mile away.

About half a mile into the trail you will cross a log foot bridge over Tom Creek and notice the large areas of exposed granite that become more and more frequent. Not far beyond the creek crossing the southern junction of the Cedar Rock Trail comes in from the left. Here is a complete, detailed trail report of that particular hike. For the rest of this report, I will only focus on what is different from that previous hike.

The Little River Trail continues past that junction for another half mile. It crosses Tom Creek one more time and also gets closer to the river. There are a few spots where the trail follows right along the riverbank. We got passed by another pair of mountain bikers along this wide stretch of the trail. About the time Little River takes a hard right turn to the east, the trail meets the northern junction with Cedar Rock Trail.

Soon after you will reach a cutout for power transmission lines. Keep your eyes peeled for cairns here as the trail goes up the hill, then turns back into the forest about 50 feet above. You don’t want to cross the power lines clearing. You will notice the forest changing from hardwoods to soft, and then you will pass through a natural granite pathway.

The rest of the hike is on granite, so be alert for changes in direction. There are a number of stone cairns that mark trail location and turns, but you will be proceeding in a generally westerly direction.

Every time I go to Cedar Rock I thoroughly enjoy it. The landscape is surrounded on all sides by tall mountains. The granite itself is multi-colored with lots of minerals, and is covered with thick moss/lichen vegetation that is quite cool and interesting to look at. Short, gnarly pines cling to the rock wherever they can find a break to plug a root and withstand the strong breezes that are inevitably blowing on Cedar Rock.

The climb is about 400 feet, but this north side access is not nearly as steep as the southern ascent. As we got near the summit there was still just a little bit of fall color clinging to the few pin oaks that are mixed into this predominantly pine forest. These small oaks are perhaps the last to hold onto their leaves. The tall grasses near the summit had turned to their winter wheat-like color and were waving to us on the breeze as we passed by.

Ahead, we could see the two girls who had passed us on their bikes back at the river. They were stopped at the junction of Cedar Rock and Big Rock trails for some picture taking and a well-earned breather. They asked if I would take a picture of them together which gave me a chance to use one of my favorite photography lines, “With your camera or mine?” Their quizzical look indicated the joke didn’t work like it usually does.

The trail junction is a 5-foot tall cross sign that stands in the middle of the granite summit. The view here is fantastic, about a 200° panorama. My companion and I found a nice ledge somewhat out of the wind to relax and enjoy some lunch. The wispy tops on the grass rustled in the breeze along with the creaking of the pine boughs. It was one of those picture postcard puffy white cloud days. Just one problem!

The battery on my dSLR camera died. Oh Noes!

Back at the car I knew that this might happen. When I went to turn the camera “on,” I discovered that it already was. Apparently when I charged the battery the previous evening, I left the camera set to “on” overnight, so it drained a large portion of the battery power. Usually I carry a spare battery with me, but I changed packs for this hike and didn’t have the spare.

Well, there was always my trusty iPhone. When you peruse the hike photos below, keep in mind the last three in the gallery, taken on Cedar Rock, are from the iPhone rather than the dSLR. If that’s the worst thing that happens to me hiking then I am very fortunate.

After enjoying lunch and the beautiful scenery, it was time to head back down off Cedar Rock. We went down the trail that we came up in the report I described above. The trail descends the 400 feet pretty quickly and rejoins the Little River Trail between the two Tom Creek crossings. The complete Cedar Rock loop is about a mile in length. Then it’s about another mile back on Little River and Corn Shoals Trails to the parking area.

A very nice hike indeed. The weather was ideal. The 7+ mile length was just right to get some good exercise and, as always, the companionship was nice after a month of solo hiking. If you are a mountain biker or hiker looking for some lower elevation trails in the Western North Carolina mountains, then DuPont State Forest is just the ticket.

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.

DuPont State Forest, in western North Carolina between Hendersonville and Brevard, was sold to the state by DuPont Corporation under favorable donation and conservation terms in 1996. Within its boundary are more than 10,000 forested acres and 80 miles of hiking and biking trails. Elevation ranges from 2300′ at Hooker Falls on the Little River to 3600′ on Stone Mountain. The state forest lies on an upland plateau of the Little River Valley with moderate hills and mountains that are topped with large granite domes and slabs. Cedar Rock, loved by hikers and mountain bikers alike, is one of those large domes covering hundreds of acres. This hike occurred on Thursday, December 15, 2011 from 11:50am to 1:30pm. The plan was to climb Cedar Rock by taking the Corn Mill Shoals Trail to the Little River Trail, then on to the Cedar Rock Trail to the summit, and back down on the Big Rock Trail.

This short scenic hike is ideal for young and old, hiking beginners and veterans alike. It’s short enough that it won’t tire the oldsters or out-of-shape couch types, yet challenging and adventurous enough to keep seasoned hikers entertained. If mountain biking is your thing, then you will love these trails too. The weather has been unseasonably mild in the Carolinas this December, so my companion and I got a late morning start so we could enjoy the forecasted sunshine and mid-sixties temp. Someone just forgot to tell Mother Nature as it was misting, grey and windy when we put our boots down on Corn Mill Shoals Trail.

The trailhead is across Cascade Lake Rd. from the parking area. Look both ways before crossing. The first 3/4 mile is a flat stroll through a conifer forest comprised primarily of hemlock and white pine. Trails and junctions within DuPont State Forest are well signed, even though there aren’t any colored blaze marks. If you have one of the handy state forest trail maps available at the parking areas or here, it is quite easy to find your way. The first junction we came to was for the Burnt Mountain Trail, but that was a destination for another day. We continued on Corn Mill Shoals just a bit further to the fork with Little River Trail. We took that to the left.

Little River isn’t really much of a river in this section of the forest, more like a creek, but it does roar over major waterfalls in other areas within the boundary. Here, it is enough to entice the rhododendron to plant themselves and offer a channel for the trail to follow. While a beautiful scene in December, be sure to check out this area some time in June too so you can enjoy the flowering rhodies. I make little mental notes to myself throughout the year of places filled with thickets of rhododendron so I can return for the seasonal efflorescence. Western North Carolina is so rich with rhododendron that my list is beginning to overflow from my ears.

Another flat 3/4 mile and we reached the junction with the Cedar Rock Trail. You can continue an additional half mile on the Little River Trail to make a larger loop with the Cedar Rock Trail, but we were anxious to get to the top just in case that threatening weather decided to take a turn for the worse. Cedar Rock Trail climbs 450 feet in a little more that half a mile. That may seem somewhat strenuous, but it really isn’t too bad. It’s all over hard, even granite without any rock scrambling or switchbacks.

I really like this section of the trail. This was my second visit to Cedar Rock Mountain, and upon glimpsing the scene I immediately remembered the special appeal. The granite is covered with an odd but beautiful moss/lichen vegetation that fills my addled brain with questions. How does it grow on the rock? How does it thrive year round, remaining green even in winter? The forest management folks ask that we not walk on this fragile, sensitive ecosystem so that it will thrive and be available for future generations to enjoy, just as I do.

Another great thing about the Cedar Rock Trail is the granite itself. I’m reminded why kitchen counter tops can be so colorful. Seams of mauve and taupe, yellow-green and grey run through the stone. Combine that with the streaks made by rain runoff through the vegetation and you’ll pique an interior decorator’s imagination. I tend to slow down climbing this trail — not so much because it is uphill — but because I like to look at the ground I walk on.

Don’t focus entirely on your feet though, because there is plenty to see to either side. To the right, or east, is a view of Joanna Mountain nearby and Grassy Mountain a little further in the distance. In the basin below is Lake Julia, but I haven’t been able to make it out with my old Meanderthal eyes. Perhaps you can. The westerly view is of what will be the descent trail, Big Rock. Behind are the mountains of the Blue Ridge Escarpment that shape the border between North and South Carolina.

At the summit of Cedar Rock is the junction with Big Rock Trail, and with the other end of the Cedar Rock Trail that comprises the larger loop I mentioned before. The top is quite flat, and large. The trail winds in and around the moss/lichen and the short, gnarly pine that manages to exist despite raging winter weather. The wind picked up. I started to leave my outer layer in the car when we began. It’s good to make myself remember that I can always take layers off, but I can’t put on what I don’t have with me. The north side of the Cedar Rock summit is a dome that has an inviting view of the Pisgah Ridge far in the distance to the north. A great spot for lunch.

We found a spot nestled up against a wind-break of pine bushes and told each other how we’ve frequented some of the best lunch spots the region has to offer. 4-star dining you say? I’ll take a turkey sandwich, a Henderson County apple, and a few pretzels on top of a mountain in the Blue Ridge any day.

Following lunch, I pulled out the monopod to take a few long distance photos of the high country in the distance, including the one at the top of this post. As we were gathering up our gear to head back down, we encountered a parade of mountain bikers — first one, then another, and finally a third — all solo riders just minutes apart. We paused to chat about mostly nothing except how fortunate we were to have this golden opportunity… as long as the rain held off.

And so it did. We made it down the Big Rock Trail and back to the car without a drop. The first half of Big Rock is very similar to the Cedar Rock Trail with lots of the moss/lichen mix over a granite surface. About half way down it begins to change to more of a dirt surface and rhododendron lined pathway. It seemed like the end came too soon.

Since the day was still young, my friend suggested a way back home that he knew of that followed a dirt road over Pinnacle Mountain to Flat Rock, NC. I said let’s go. We took Cascade Lakes Road to Reasonover Road around the southern end of DuPont State Forest and past Reasonover Lake. There the road forked to Green River on the right and Pinnacle Mountain on the left.

It was about three miles of curvy, windy backcountry road that went from the vulgar to the sublime. After about a mile, we encountered a clear cut logging operation on the southeast side of the road. Totally ugly with no hint of remorse… we hoped they simply weren’t finished yet and would be back to replant and revitalize. Without remediation this side of the mountain will be prone to erosion and a blight on an otherwise gorgeous area.

But, after we crossed Pinnacle Mountain we entered horse country. Farm after farm of bucolic pastures with split rail fences, rolling hills, and hay shelters. There were horses all over. After the farms came the mountain subdivisions of the uber-rich with pavilions and amphitheaters overlooking Flat Rock and Hendersonville below.

If you’re looking for short hikes to stretch your legs, you can’t go wrong at Dupont State Forest. There are waterfall trails, forest trails, lakes and even a few small mountains to climb. I like to save DuPont trails for winter, because the elevation is 3000 feet lower than the surrounding high country, and there is less likelihood of encountering snow and ice.

Updated March 29, 2016: Made another visit to this delightful section of DuPont State Forest. The understory alongside the Cedar Rock Trail was showing some scarring from recent prescribed burning, but that will be rejuvenated within a matter of months. Otherwise everything looked great on all the trails. Hope you enjoy the new photos below:

Updated November 2, 2017: It seemed like a Fall visit to Cedar Rock was in order. The oaks and maples come alive in late October to early November. The unseasonably warm weather has continued and made for short sleeve hiking weather the first week of November. Let’s hope this doesn’t mean another bad fire season in 2017. Enjoy the pictures!

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.