The trip to Hen Wallow Falls is a pleasant walk through hemlock and rhododendron forest. A signed side trail leads to the base of the falls by way of steep switchbacks. Hen Wallow Creek, only two feet wide at the top of the falls, fans out to 20 feet at the base. The waterfall is … Continue reading Gabes Mountain Trail to Hen Wallow Falls
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Distance: 4.2 miles round trip Highlights: gorgeous creek views, Midnight Hole, Mouse Creek Falls, history If you’re on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, the hike to Mouse Creek Falls is short, but sweet, and has something to offer year-round. In the summer, this trail offers plenty of opportunities for … Continue reading Big Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls
Atop Mt. Sterling (5,842 ft elevation) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the historic, 60 ft. steel fire lookout tower built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This is the highest elevation of any fire tower remaining in the eastern USA. From the top of the Mt. Sterling Tower, you overlook Cataloochee Valley, the Pigeon River Gorge, the Unaka Mountains, the main ridge of the Smokies, the Black Mountains (east), and the end of the Southern Appalachians.
The 3 mile hike (6 mi round trip) from Sterling Gap is an easy jeep trail with a hike difficulty Rating of 9.60 (moderate) due to the 1953 feet in elevation. At 1/2 mile up the trail, the Long Bunk Trail intersects. Continue climbing for two miles until you reach the ridgeline. At roughly 2.6 miles you’ll reach the Mount Sterling Ridge Trail junction. Turn right on the Mount Sterling Ridge Trail and the Tower will be about 4/10 mile on the right. There are no views from the base of the tower at 5842 feet! You will need to climb to enjoy the panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Back Country Campsite #38 is at the base of the tower. Water is 1/4 mile down the Baxter Creek Trail on the left. You could even spend the night in the small cab atop the tower. Mt. Sterling was known as the Devil’s Bedchamber to early Cherokee hunters.
Since the beautiful Cataloochee Valley is nearby, you will definitely see elk, the historic structures and more hiking trails there. Another tower is located on neighboring Mt. Cammerer.
There are several routes that will take you to the summit of Mt. Sterling. The shortest route to the fire tower is via the Mount Sterling Trail from Mount Sterling Gap.
The Mt. Sterling area is one of the more historic places in the Great Smoky Mountains. According to the early settlers in the area, the mountain was given its name after a two-foot wide streak of lead was found in the bed of the Pigeon River, near the northeastern base of the mountain. Unfortunately those residents mistakenly thought they had found silver.
One of the most famous stories associated with the area occurred during the Civil War. Towards the end of the war the remote valleys around the base of Mt. Sterling became popular hideouts for deserters from both sides of the war. Both Northern and Southern troop detachments would make frequent raids into the area to find and capture these fugitives.
Directions: Take exit 20 from I-40 and go west on U.S. Highway 276. Take the first right on Cove Creek Road and drive 15.7 miles. All but a few miles of this road is unpaved, curvy and bumpy. So allow plenty of driving time. At about 7.5 miles, you will see the turn-off to Cataloochee Valley. Continue straight to Mt. Sterling, following signs for Crosby.
Andrews Bald in the Great Smoky Mountains has an elevation of 5,920 feet, making it the highest grassy bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The mountain is one of two grassy balds maintained in the range by the park service. The other is Gregory Bald, in the western Smokies. The hike is about … Continue reading Andrews Bald Hike, Great Smoky Mountains
The Looking Glass Rock Trail climbs about 1,700 ft. in just over three miles (6.5 miles round-trip, allow 4 hours). The many switchbacks along the way help make for a long and moderately difficult climb. A strong hiker can make it to the top in 1.5 hours and down in one hour. The views from … Continue reading Looking Glass Rock Hike
From Spartanburg head west on I-26. At the Saluda exit (28) take a right and head north approximately 3 miles. At the bottom of the incline is a gate on the left hand side. On the other side of the gate is the start of the trail. The road down to the trailhead is paved. … Continue reading Bradley Falls Trail
Once you’ve parked, make sure you set your GPS if you have one and begin! The trail starts downward and Rooty, shady and fairly easy. Soon you’ll hear water to your left and you’ll come up on S. Mills river, look for the first footbridge to cross it and bear left at the next intersection … Continue reading Turkey Pen road into Pisgah National Forest
We have been to Highlands numerous times! We’ve done a bunch of hikes including waterfall hikes up there. I say up there because it’s 4100 feet in elevation in town! However, this hike and the 106 west was the first time we stumbled on this. And a restaurant I’ll tell you about later. It was … Continue reading Glen Falls Hike – Highlands
We will do 7 waterfalls and be home for dinner! Starting with Raven Rock, then Shower Falls, Mac’s, Pothole, Schoolhouse, Par and Glove falls in no order – you’ll have to discover them! Start with Raven Rock Falls: To get to Raven Rock Falls take 281 north from Hwy 64 a mile or so then veer off … Continue reading Panthertown 8 Waterfall Hike
If you’ve never been to Fontana Lake – it’s a must see! For this hike we will drive take 23/74 W towards Bryson city for about 40 miles to the turn or street of Fontana Dam. I stopped in the dam parking area and read the signs, learned about the area and plan to return … Continue reading Fontana Dam & Lake-shore Trail
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