There are lots of ways to get to Shining Rock. The 4.3-mile Ivestor Gap Trail is probably the easiest way in terms of difficulty. The Art Loeb Trail is probably the most rewarding in terms of beauty. The 4-mile Shining … Continued
Crabtree Meadow is a campground and hiking area in Pisgah National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It’s about 16 miles north of Mt Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River. The map point below … Continued
I’ve hiked just about all of Panthertown Valley in both directions. It’s a beautiful area that mostly features easy to moderate hiking. There are a few strenuous sections of trail, but they’re avoided with this loop except for the short … Continued
Pilot Cove/Slate Rock Loop is a 7+ mile series of trails in Pisgah National Forest near Mills River, North Carolina. This area of the forest is much less popular than the traditional attractions along US 276 and the Blue Ridge … Continued
Clingmans Dome is the largest mountain in Tennessee and the high point of the Appalachian Trail. I recently had a couple of days free between some work trips. Since I rarely get the exercise I need on work trips, and … Continued
This loop was sort of an accident. As I said before, I’m trying to hike every foot of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness this winter. I’ve done much of it before, but this is a fun way for me to try … Continued
I’ve been wanting to get in some big miles while the weather is unseasonably warm and sunny. I had plans in Asheville on Friday night, so I figured I’d just drive to a campsite afterward. That way I could hit … Continued
I’ve been meaning to visit the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) for years. I tried to spend a weekend there in the fall of 2016, but wildfires resulted in temporary road and park closures. I’m not … Continued
Jones Gap State Park in upstate South Carolina is a real gem. It’s part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area along with Caesars Head State Park and a trail network connects the two parks. There’s even a spur that connects … Continued
I drive through Caesars Head State Park all time on my way to Pisgah National Forest in the Brevard and Asheville areas of North Carolina. I somehow got it in my head a long time ago that I already hiked … Continued