sweetwilder

March 19, 2016

The trailhead for Buckhorn Gap is located off of F.S. 477 (2.6 miles from Hwy. 276). On the map, it’s just north of my previous hikes at Pressley Cove and Perry Cove.

I created a quasi-loop, hiking the Buckhorn Gap Trail to Twin Falls Trail (very easy grade for 1.5 miles); then continuing on Buckhorn for 3.5 miles (it follows F.S. roads part of the way, but is orange-blazed throughout) to the northern terminus with South Mills River Trail. There is a wonderful level camping spot for one or two near the intersection of these trails.

I retraced my steps back to the Buckhorn bike trail to hike to F.S. 5058, which leads to Clawhammer Cove Trail. Clawhammer was chock-full of ferns near Avery Creek.[i] The trailhead for Clawhammer is a short walk to the south from Buckhorn’s trailhead.

Total mileage is 10.8 miles.

[i]http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Ferns&cl=US/NC/Haywood/Cabin_Cove