Take A Hike

[Dee-Vo]

Over the years I've covered many trails and walkways while hunting, walking, hiking, fishing, exploring, etc. The quiet is what draws me, and of course the possibility of seeing who knows what wildlife/plant life, view, or scenery.

Hiking is one thing that I've always gone back to when time avails itself. It helps my brain and nerves and there's always somewhere to go that I haven't been yet, some new trail or river or mountain to see.

I've covered all of the trails in Pilot Mountain State Park as well as all of the trails in Hanging Rock State Park and I'm still working on more in Stone Mountain State Park (NC). Many trails along the mountains of several states have felt my footsteps along them. I've forgotten more trail and area names than I can remember.

Diversity is great and is what keeps me intrigued. Trails on the coast vs in the mountains vs northern states vs out west. It's pretty awesome.

I plan to keep up with the places I cover here from now on. Please add anything you'd like to or add anything from your own outings. I'll likely include pictures occasionally.


Pilot Mountain is okay with my favorite trails being the ones with a view from up there around the knob. I also enjoyed the Mountain Trail here.

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/pilot-mountain-state-park


At Hanging Rock, by far, the Moore's Knob observation tower takes the cake. If you haven't been up there to see the views and you want to get some exercise in then this place will not let you down.

https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/hanging-rock-state-park



I hiked this small area yesterday. Not remote, but it was somewhere I had read about and that I hadn't been. Plenty of disc golf here. It was called Nelson's Acres.

https://www.pilotmountainnc.org/community/page/nelson-acres-disc-golf-trails-camping


Also, we visited the Biltmore House over the weekend. Pretty impressive!

[trout-r-us]

I have fond memories of Hanging Rock Park and its trails. Always liked their campground, and we usually found a site near the base of the Moore's Knob trail when my kids were little.
One time when my mom was visiting, she decided she wanted to go camping with us. At 66 years old it was her first experience camping and the first time she ever slept in a tent. She didn't climb the high trails, but was able to make it around the trail that circles the lake.
I'm not sure I had ever seen her happier than during that overnight trip with her only grandson.
She spoke of it often, and though she's been gone for quite awhile now, it remains a favorite memory for me.

[Woolly Bugger]

This is some of my pandemic hikes

https://www.brfff.com/forum/index.php/topic,16335.msg170118.html#msg170118

[greg]

I hike as much or more than I fish. Often in pisgah forest near brevard. But my love is the smokies. Over the last several years I've done a fair o amount of off trail in the smokies. The group I off trail with are doing a big hike up the upper part of the left fork of deep creek tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't make it. But we have had some great hikes.

[Dee-Vo]

I hike as much or more than I fish. Often in pisgah forest near brevard. But my love is the smokies. Over the last several years I've done a fair o amount of off trail in the smokies. The group I off trail with are doing a big hike up the upper part of the left fork of deep creek tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't make it. But we have had some great hikes.

I've messed around in the Smokies a little and I've been up in Deep Creek a good ways and fished also. I remember it being super high water from a ton of rain.

[trout-r-us]

Now that we've reached upper-middle age, my Lady and I have become satisfied with a walk in the park vs a full blown hike.
Had business in the big city a couple days ago, and found this place to be quite enjoyable for a leisurely stroll. Hopefully we'll have a chance to visit again during the different seasons.

https://greensborobeautiful.org/gardens/tanger/

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[Onslow]

The most satisfying hike near my house is the Carter Falls loop on Big Elkin Creek.  Obviously the falls are more attractive when the water is clear.  It is not a park or a greenway, but just a very nice trail open to the public made available by the Elkin Valley Trail Association. It is seeing more traffic, and the parking lot can be full.  The woods are full of sourwood, holly, and running cedar.  Many people don't pay attention, and miss the lower falls.  This is a fairly large stream that drops 70 in a very short distance.

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The EVTA has made many trails over SW Surry and East Wilkes.

There are new trails popping up along the Yadkin as well.  One recently opened on RT 268 near Burch.  Have not hiked it yet.

My favorite Summer outing is to simply purchase a meal at Bojangles, and hang out at the park in Jonesville, then hike along the Yadkin eastward past I 77.  This is a less crowded place.

[Dee-Vo]

The most satisfying hike near my house is the Carter Falls loop on Big Elkin Creek.  Obviously the falls are more attractive when the water is clear.  It is not a park or a greenway, but just a very nice trail open to the public made available by the Elkin Valley Trail Association. It is seeing more traffic, and the parking lot can be full.  The woods are full of sourwood, holly, and running cedar.  Many people don't pay attention, and miss the lower falls.  This is a fairly large stream that drops 70 in a very short distance.

You cannot view this attachment.

The EVTA has made many trails over SW Surry and East Wilkes.

There are new trails popping up along the Yadkin as well.  One recently opened on RT 268 near Burch.  Have not hiked it yet.

My favorite Summer outing is to simply purchase a meal at Bojangles, and hang out at the park in Jonesville, then hike along the Yadkin eastward past I 77.  This is a less crowded place.

I've looked at doing that little hike lots of times but haven't gotten over there yet. I've spent VERY little time in that area since making the move to this store. I bet there are fish in there....

I've also wanted to do the trails through town and at Jonesville.

[Dee-Vo]

Hiked this one a few years back while looking at and trying to access Gully Creek which was not fruitful at all. That was a heck of day and I was beat. This same day I accessed and fished the Fisher River headwaters by way of conning the cartel into letting me in and also accessed and fished Ramey Creek. I hope Ramey Creek is still in decent shape as I haven't been up in there since the Bottomley Farms disaster.

https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-gully-creek.htm

[Dee-Vo]

This hike is still maybe the most memorable to me as this is the most exhausted I think I've ever been in my life. Hiked a total of maybe 12 miles and waded and climbed boulders the whole way through while fishing. I honestly thought I might not make it back to my truck that evening. Over the last couple miles I was literally having to make myself drag my feet with those heavy boots on just to make it out. Severely dehydrated out of energy. That was a great but rough day to say the least. The cramps were terrible the rest of that night.

Hiking in there to see that cabin is a fun time. The history is very cool when you read about that little establishment of civilization in that valley. The forest changes as you progress and that area is full of wildlife.

https://docsouth.unc.edu/blueridgeparkway/overlooks/caudill_cabin/

[Dee-Vo]

A shot of the Biltmore from last weekend.

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[Dee-Vo]

After work this afternoon, I ran home and picked up my boy and we headed to this nature preserve. Pretty cool place and very quiet.

Caves were neat. Standing in front of them felt like standing in front of a window air conditioner. That cool air from underground blew perfectly right into our sweating faces.

We seen one couple with their dog. A couple rabbits, squirrels, hawks (I think), and plenty of swallowtail butterflies pretty much wrapped up the wildlife.

About 2.2 miles hiked. Only one trail here to cover.

At about 2800' in elevation here there were some decent views even with the trees being filled with leaves. If someone visited this trail in late autumn or winter the views would be gorgeous.

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[Dee-Vo]

This afternoon in the backyard at home. A small buck, a mom, and a little one. Rumors of black bears nearby continue to make their way around the neighborhood. I've not seen one here yet.

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[greg]

Gotta love getting the little ones out. My son aand I took his two year old to jones gap state park for,his first real backpacking and camping trip about a 3 weeks ago. Only went in about a quarter if a mile to one of their walk in sites but we had a ball.

[greg]

One hike that will always stand out in my memory  was in may of 22. Hazel creek has always been a special place to me. It is well known and can get crowded but if you are willing to put in the miles you get way up from lake and into the speck waters. When I found out my first grandchild was on the way I told my wife they would be baptized with water from hazel creek. When the time came my plan was to go over from Fontana marina and spend a few days camping and fishing. Wanted water to come from above where proctor creek comes into hazel. Things came up and there wasn't time. Plans changed and I only had one day. I took a Thursday off work and drove to clingmans dome. Hiked up  and hit AT. Went to Welch ridge and dropped to hazel creek trail. From there the decent began. Went down about 2 miles or so to the first cascade and got my quart of water. Began the climb out. According to GPS 19.2 miles and 4200 feet of elevation gain and lost. It made for a long hike. Fast forward and his Baby brother is being baptized two weeks from today. Next weekend my son and I are headed over for the weekend to get another quart of hazel creek water.