South Mills River Trailhead

Located in Pisgah National Forest on NC 215, Sunburst Campground was once a logging camp. Now nine primitive campsites offer quiet camping near the West Fork, Pigeon Rivers. Sites have picnic tables, tent pads, and lantern hooks. Flush toilets in bath house, and firewood available for purchase.

A lifeguard is on duty Memorial Day weekend through Labor day, 8AM to sunset, unless posted otherwise.

The trailhead will betemporarily closed until July 8th for firefighter and public safety and resource protection during fire line repair operations from the suppression of the Great Lake fire.   This trail offers eight off-highway-vehicle trail miles for riders. The trail is designated for all-terrain vehicles and trail bikes.  ATVs are defined as having seat to be straddled by the operator and a…

The Catfish Waterfowl Impoundment is located in the Croatan National Forest and managed by North Carolina Wildlife commission and the USFS. It is approximately 800 acres in size on what was a drained farm before the USFS acquired it in the late 1960's. The average water level inside the impoundment is approximately 1-2 feet with canals approximately 5+ feet deep. Use caution when wading. Most hunters use small boats…

Operated in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, this site offers a boat launch and fishing opportunities. 

This site offers a boat launch and fishing opportunitites. Download free, geo-referenced map, compatible with Avenza, for Weetock Trail.

This page was last updated 12/5/2023 Current Notes of Interest: 12/5/2023-12/22/2023-In support of the NPS Blue Ridge Parkway vegetation management project, the USFS gates have been closed at the top of South Toe Road (FSR 472), Neals Creek (FSR 2074) and Curtis Creek. Hunters will still be able to access those roads from the bottom, but they will need to turn around at the top and won’t be able to traverse…

The trail provides good views including Maple Camp Bald to the northeast. It offers loop opportunities with the Buncombe Horse Range Trail, Mount Mitchell Trail and the Black Mountain Crest Trail. This narrow trail is extremely steep and follows unsteady rock debris. Total Elevation Change: 520 feet Degree of Difficulty: Difficult Beginning Point: Buncombe Horse Range Trail Ending Point: Black Mountain Crest Trail…

This trail is rated as most difficult and crosses several 6,000 plus foot peaks. Portions of this trail are steep. From Bolens Creek's north end this trail follows an old Forest Service road before becoming a foot trail. Some of the trail near Bolens Creek is close to pools where fishing may be possible. The trail runs the ridge of Mount Mitchell with possible camping near Deep Gap and limited water. Near Mount…

The trail parallels Shinbone Creek and provides views of the Unaka Mountains and the magnificent Nolichucky Gorge. This rocky trail follows an old logging road through woods full of poplar, oak and maple trees. Total Length: 8.5 miles Total Elevation Change: 140 feet Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Beginning Point: NFSR 214 Ending Point: NFSR 214 Average Hiking Time: 5 hours (one way) Amount of Use: Moderate Blaze…

This trail section is a portion of the Overmountain Victory Trail that provides views of Yellow Mountain to the west and Rye Ridge to the east. For more information on the Overmountain Victory Trail visit: www.nps.gov/ovvi. Total Length: 1.5 miles Total Elevation Change: 630 feet Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Beginning Point: Roaring Creek Road (SR 1132) Ending Point:…

Laurel River Trail begins on a gravel road through private property. Hikers, bikers, and campers should stay on the trail to ensure the privacy of landowners along the route. After one mile, the trail enters the national forest and continues at a fairly level grade to the French Broad River. The trail is especially scenic in early spring when there are many wildflowers blooming along the path and riverbanks. Bikers…

Jack Branch Trail combined with the River Ridge Trail offers panoramic views of the French Broad River. The trail traverses open fields and Oak-Hickory forests. Total Length: 2.4 miles Total Elevation Change: 1,320 feet Degree of Difficulty: Difficult Beginning Point: River Ridge Trail Ending Point: NFSR 422 Average Hiking Time: 2 hours (one way) Amount of Use: Moderate Blaze Color: Blue Rectangle Area Trail Map:…

This trail offers a walk through oak-hickory hardwood forests. The trail provides access from Hot Springs to the Rich Mountain Fire Tower. There is loop opportunity with the Appalachian Trail. Total Length: 3.1 miles Total Elevation Change: 1,400 feet Degree of Difficulty: Difficult Beginning Point: Appalachian Trail Ending Point: Reservoir Road, Hot Springs Average Hiking Time: 3 hours (one way) Amount of Use:…

This trail enters the woods and begins a steady downhill grade. Most of the way, the trail follows a creek on an old wooded road. In most places, the trail acommodates side-by-side walking for two hikers. To the right, the trail traverses some boggy sections, especially in rainy weather. Total Length: 2 miles Total Elevation Change: 820 feet Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Beginning Point: Appalachian Trail at…

This trail follows Groundhog Creek for most of its length. Just below the Appalachian Trail shelter the trail crosses an old road. Water is available along the trail and at the shelter. Offers 9.5 mile loop: Combine with Groundhog Creek, Rube Rock and Appalachian trails. Total Length: 2.3 miles Total Elevation Change: 1,160 feet Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Beginning Point: Appalachian Trail Ending Point: Rube…

Located near the Buckhorn Tower Viewpoint, the Buckhorn Campground is a small rustic campground nestled in the trees just below the ridgeline. The site is popular with summer campers and fall hunters. Hells Canyon National…

The Ah Hee Diggins Interpretive Site  displays the mining efforts of Chinese miners in the late 1800s and the resulting hand-stacked rock tailings that can be seen from the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway. Although the miners could not file their own claims, holders could sell or lease worked-out claims to Chinese owned companies. To pursue their gold mining efforts, the miners muscled rock into piles across 16…

The Crawfish Creek Trailhead is a small trailhead that accesses the Crawfish Lake Trail #1606  which goes to Crawfish Lake within North Fork John Day Wilderness and then continues on to the…

This trailhead provides access to the Gros Ventre Wilderness. The last 4 miles of the road requires high clearance vehicle, 4-wheel drive vehicles and the road cross a creek. Trail #099 follows Tosi Creek and loops around to Kinky Creek Trailhead.

This boat ramp is located within the Fremont Lake Campground. Onsite you will find a fishing pier, a dock, double vault toilet, and drinking water. Due to limited space, parking is limited to campground guests. Day users and other overnight users may park at the Lower Fremont Boat Site.

This trailhead is located in the Snake River Canyon south of Hoback Junction off of Highway 89 South. It is a large dirt parking area next to Wolf Creek right off of the highway, with several large old growth pine and fir trees. The turnoff is not signed. This is the main access to the Wolf Creek Trail #4060, a non-motorized trail which leads into the Palisades Wilderness Study Area up to the Snake River Divide. It…

Emigrant Trail/ Mokelumne Coast to Crest (MCCT) Trail from the Emigrant Trail - West Trailhead The Emigrant Trail (19E01) is a portion of a historic pioneer route. This trailhead is at the west end of the trail; the east end is at the Mosquito Lakes Trailhead. See General Notes on this page for access points in between. The trail…