Pisgah & DuPont Trip Reports
Shining Rock
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For many people, the highlight of the Pisgah Ranger District is the Shining Rock Wilderness. This is readily apparent to anyone who has looked for a parking place at the Ivestor Gap Trailhead on a summer or fall weekend. Despite the crowds, Shining Rock does offer some spectacular scenery. In
October of 99 we made an attempt on Cold Mountain. Back before Cold Mountain was a famous novel and movie, it was just a spectacular peak in the heart of the wilderness. Foul weather forced us to change plans that weekend, but we had better luck getting to Cold Mountain in May of 2000. Incredibly, it took me 9 years to make it back to Cold Mountain, as I finally did a solo backpacking trip there in May of 2009. Photos In October of 2000, Fungirl and I backpacked over Shining Rock and Black Balsam from the East Fork of the Pigeon River. In March of 2004, Joel and I backpacked up the Big East Fork to Graveyard Fields. The next winter, Myron and Dorcas joined me as we backpacked there from highway 215. In October of 2005, I dayhiked with Saucony up the Old Butt Knob Trail to Shining Rock and returned by way of Shining Creek. In October of 2006, Dave and I enjoyed some fine fall colors on a backpacking trip from Graveyard Fields over Black Balsam to camp at Flat Laurel Creek. Christy and I brought both dogs with us on an October, 2008 backpacking trip, this time making a loop from highway 215 around Little Sam Mountain. Photos. In September, 2010 I made a quick solo backpacking trip combining The Big East Fork, Greasy Cove, Art Loeb, and Old Butt Knob Trails and camping at Flower Gap. Photos. In April, 2011, we spent the weekend in Asheville for a pair of Widespread Panic concerts, and also squeezed in a quick dayhike to Black Balsam and Tennent Mountain. Photos. In September, 2011, I combined the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness Areas in a single backpacking trip from Sunburst campground. Photos. Later that month, I returned to the area for a dayhike and to check out the early fall foliage. Photos. In May, 2013 I combined the Little East Fork Trail, some old logging roads, the Fork Mountain Trail, and the Art Loeb Trail to do an overnight backpacking loop hitting most of the highlights of the Shining Rock Wilderness, including Tennent Mountain and Cold Mountain. Photos.
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Just west of Shining Rock is the Middle Prong Wilderness. It features many of the same attractions as Shining Rock, but without the crowds. Early dayhikes in the area took us along the Middle Prong, to the summit of Mount Hardy, and out Grassy Ridge. Some years ago LL Bob and I backpacked there for the first time. We hiked up the valley from Sunburst and camped in a beautiful meadow. We returned by way of the exceptionally scenic Grassy Ridge Trail. In October of 2001 I chose Middle Prong for my first solo backpacking trip. I actually started the trip near Black Balsam, but hiked into the Middle Prong Wilderness to camp in a meadow on Green Knob. I returned by way of Flat Laurel Creek and summited Big Sam Mountain before I concluded the trip. In January of 2003, we car camped at Davidson River Campground but dayhiked in the Middle Prong Wilderness. In April of 2006, I did a dayhike through the wilderness along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. In March, 2013 Jack and Jonathan joined me for dayhike on the Mountains to Sea Trail to Mount Hardy Falls and a scenic bald below Mount Hardy. Photos.
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The valleys of the Davidson River and Mills River, along with the surrounding ridges, provide numerous hiking opportunities. There are numerous cascades, making the area second only to Jocassee for waterfall enthusiasts in the southern Appalachians. In October of 1999, Fungirl and I hiked to the cliffs of Looking Glass Rock. In February of 2000 we braved foul weather and car camped on Avery Creek. On that trip we dayhiked to the South Mills River and to Twin Falls. We returned to the area in March of 2005, car camping on Avery Creek, dayhiking from there to Twin Falls and Clawhammer Mountain. In January of 2002 we backpacked on the Art Loeb trail to the cliffs of Cedar Rock. I returned 3 years later for a solo backpacking trip in the same area. That April, a group of us backpacked from Avery Creek to The Pink Beds, where we spotted the year's first wildflowers as well as several beaver ponds. In June of 2002, we stayed at the Pisgah Campground and dayhiked the Shut-In Trail and the Pink Beds. In April of 2006, we car-camped and I hiked along the South Mills River to High Falls. In the summer of 2007, I put it all together on a 4-day backpacking trip from the Davidson River campground that combined the Art Loeb, Mountains to Sea, and Black Mountain trails. In May of 2008, another solo backpacking trip took me to the Davidson River Headwaters and Pilot Mountain. In February of 2009, Christy and I celebrated the 10-year anniversary of when we first met, car camping at the Davidson River campground and doing dayhikes to several waterfalls in the area. In March of 2009, I squeezed in a short after-work hike in the South Mills River area. In May, Christy and I returned to the area for more car camping and a dayhike to Cove Creek Falls. Photos That June, I met Jack for a short but challenging hike to an obscure waterfall on the Right Fork of the Davidson River. In October, a large group of us checked out the fall colors on a loop hike from the Pisgah Fish Hatchery to Cedar Rock. Photos I returned to Cedar Rock with Bob J. in March, 2011 on a backpacking trip from the Davidson River Campground. Photos
In December, 2010 I did solo dayhikes to Avery Creek, Twin Falls, and Moore Cove Falls. Photos.
In June, 2011 Christy and I returned to the area, backpacking along the South Mills River. Photos. In January, 2012 Bob J and I backpacked from Turkey Pen Gap to Clawhammer Mountain and on to the Coontree Picnic Area. Photos. In April, 2012 I hiked with Brenda and Darrin to the waterfall on the Right Fork of the Davidson River and Pilot Mountain. Brenda wrote an excellent trip report. My Photos.
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DuPont State Forest, Hickory Nut Gorge & The Green River area
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North Carolina's newest area for outdoor recreation is the DuPont State Forest. Several years ago, DuPont sold the land to a developer who planned yet another infestation of summer homes. Luckily, the state, with the assistance of the Nature Conservancy condemned the land, paid off the developer, and created a new state forest. This new area features over 100 miles of trail, mainly on old roads. It is a haven for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, and it's easy to get to, being just outside of Hendersonville. We first visited the area in January of 2003. We did two short hikes on that trip, taking in 4 major waterfalls on the Little River. In doing so, we solved a longstanding mystery about the location of a waterfall filmed in "Last of the Mohicans". Fungirl and I returned in August of 2003, brining her sister and 6-year old nephew with us. We car camped on the South Mills River, and hiked on Black Balsam Knob and had a swim at Sliding Rock. The highlight of the trip was a hike in DuPont along the Little River. Heavy rains had turned the stream into a flooded torrent that made the waterfalls even more spectacular than usual. In February of 2004, we ended a weekend of car camping with a dayhike to Stone Mountain. A week later, we explored the Narrows of the Green River outside of Saluda. In September, Kevin and I attempted to hiked along the Green River, but had to turn back due to hurricane damage. Instead, we did a short hike to Big Bradley Falls. I returned to the same area the next month, and explored both Big Bradley & Little Bradley Falls. In May of 2005, Jack and I explored both falls, approaching on a new route from downstream. In January of 2006 Jack joined me for "The Ultimate DuPont State Forest hike" as we visited all of the major waterfalls on the Little River as well as Cedar Rock. In January of 2008, Christy, Bob, and I hiked some new trails in DuPont, starting from the Fawn Lake Trailhead and passing Lake Julia, Bridal Veil Falls, and Cedar Rock. In March, 2010, we returned to the area for a hike to all of the major waterfalls and Cedar Rock with Jack, Dave, and two friends from Denmark. (Photos) In February of 2007, Jack, Bob, and I explored Rumbling Bald and Eagle Rock in the soon to be Hickory Nut Gorge State Park. In March of 2009, Jack and I returned to the area, and hiked through the Florence Nature Preserve and on to Little Pisgah Mountain and Bearwallow Mountain. In May, 2010, Christy and I spent the weekend in Asheville. We also did short walks to Pearson's Falls and in the gardens at the NC Arboretum. Photos. In January, 2011 Jack and I explored Hogshead Creek and discovered two new waterfalls upstream from Maidenhair Falls. Photos. In December, 2011 I joined a hike with the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy to Big Pool Falls in World's Edge. Afterwards, I scouted a new trail with Peter Barr in the upper part of Hickory Nut Gorge, hiking from Hickory Nut Gap to Ferguson Peak and Blue Ridge Pastures. Photos. In January, 2012 Jack, Brenda and I joined a CMLC hike from Camp High Rocks in Cedar Mountain to the summit of Rich Mountain. Afterwards, we hiked to Joanna Mountain in DuPont State Forest. Photos. In February, Jack and I explored Little Cove Creek in the Green River Gamelands and discovered three new, undocumented waterfalls. Photos. The next weekend, Jack and I visited Rainbow Falls in Chimney Rock State Park before joining a CMLC hike led by Peter to Bearwallow Mountain and Wildcat Rock. Photos. In March, Christy and I led a group of exchange students from Denmark, high school students, teachers, and parents on a hike in DuPont State Forest. Photos. In June, 2012, Jack, Darrin, and I joined a CMLC hike to Connestee Falls and three waterfalls on Batson Creek. Later we explored Carson Creek and visited Silver Slip. Photos.
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