May 8, 2016 The first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot described Pink Beds as a “great bowl with mountains for the rim.”[1] Indeed it is nestled in the basin between Rich Mountain, Black Mountain to the south and east and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Frying Pan Mountain to the north and … More Pink Beds Loop Trail, Pink Beds Connector Trail
April 23, 2016 There’s something about being in the woods, a salve for the weary urbanite’s soul. A relaxation only found amongst the trees. The mountain vistas are not always as spectacular off the beaten path, but the beauty of nature is apparent. If you find yourself walking the short trail to Devil’s Courthouse from the Blue … More Little Sam Trail
April 10, 2016 Black Mountain and Clawhammer Mountain have loomed over my hikes for the past two months. Black Mountain has that classic conical mountain feature, whereas Clawhammer is non-uniform, rugged. I would look up to these mountains as I made my way winding around the edges of their new spring skirts, their shadows over … More Black Mountain Trail
April 4, 2016 I am confronted by ethical dilemmas every day of the week. Rarely does that bleed into my private life, but such was the case on a casual, after work hike. Nestled in between Shining Rock Wilderness, Middle Prong Wilderness and Nantahala National Forest in the Pisgah Ranger District is a great family … More Flat Laurel Creek Trail, Sam Knob Trail, Sam Knob Summit Trail
April 2, 2016 Old Butt Knob Trail is the crown jewel of the Shining Rock Wilderness. Hiked east to west from Big East Fork Trailhead, it is unrelenting. It’s the kind of trail that never lets you forget you are climbing a mountain. Undulation and steepness greet you at every turn. It is one of … More Old Butt Knob Trail, Shining Creek Trail
March 26, 2016 If you are in the Brevard/Asheville area and have family in town that don’t hike, but you want them to be outside, this is the perfect set of trails. Easy, level, close to the car, Andy Cove and the Exercise Trail are located beside the Pisgah Ranger District Office. Andy Cove Trail … More Andy Cove Trail, Exercise Trail
March 26, 2016 As we raise children, so often we save and show things to instruct them: a favorite book, a movie that changed us, a song that moved us. We hope to impart some of knowledge to them, have them grow with wisdom. How important it is to save trails for our children as well. … More Moore Cove Trail
February 28, 2016 Cat Gap Loop Trail is an excellent trail for good views, moderate terrain, creek crossings and wonderful pine trees. In fact, I saw many couples, presumably from Brevard College, on this sunny, warm February day. The trail starts from the parking lot of the Fish Hatchery on F.S. 50. There are several … More Cat Gap Loop Trail, Cat Gap Bypass Trail
February 20, 2016 This is a great 10-mile hike for those wanting undulating hills, scenic mountaintop vistas, streams and waterfalls. I hiked east on Cat Gap Trail to the John Rock Trail. The trail was generally uphill, but nothing insurmountable. The hike up to the summit of John Rock is a steady climb, before heading … More John Rock Trail, Butter Gap Trail
October 30, 2015 “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought. This is what it is to be happy.” -Sylvia Plath Ramona and I had a great day out in Pisgah National Forest. The autumn air hung sweetly upon the forest floor as the smell of spruce fir … More Chestnut Bald