-
Albert Mountain
Fire Tower Trail - (the trailhead is approximately
3.5 miles beyond the entrance to Standing Indian Campground.
If you cross Bearpen Creek you' are 300 yards beyond the
trailhead) This is the absolute best of trails in the
Nantahala National Forest (okay, my opinion but shared by
everyone I know). It is the only loop I know of that
includes a piece of the Appalachian Trail, relative easy
climb up along Bearden Creek and, on the return part of the
loop, descending along Betty Creek. Albert Mountain is
almost a mile high and, though the Yellow Bald is a little
bit higher, the fire tower give one of the greatest views in
these mountains.
The Albert Mountain Trail climbs to the Appalachian trail
(about a 1,200 foot climb over about 2 miles on a moderate
trail). The Fire Tower is to your left up the AT. You can
return the same way you came to get back to your car - or -
you can head south (down hill) on the AT and take the first
trail on your right. Follow this mostly level trail (Betty
Creek Gap Trail) a little
over a mile to another trail, also on your right. Follow
this trail back down to FR-67. I'd estimate it is about 4
miles back to the Albert Mountain Trailhead. This is a great
trail with some fantastic views. You will have circled around Bearpen Mountain. The river along FR-67 is
the Nantahala and
this is its headwaters.
Because there are many designated hiking, biking and equestrian
trails in the Standing Indian area, we are publish-ing the
directions to the Standing Indian area once for all the
trails. See: Directions to Standing Indian...
(from
Franklin) - or - (from
Hayesville)
Please note that Standing Indian area trail maps are available from
the Forest Service at 90 Sloan Rd in Franklin (phone:
524-4410). They can also give you excellent advice on which
trails to chose.
-
Bearpen Gap Trail - (the
trailhead is approximately 3.5 miles beyond the entrance to
Standing Indian Campground. If you cross Bearpen Creek you'
are 300 yards beyond the trailhead)
-
Betty Creek Gap Trail
- (the trailhead is approximately 4.0 miles beyond the
entrance to Standing Indian Campground)
-
Big Laurel Falls Trail
- (the trailhead is approximately 6.5 miles beyond the
entrance to Standing Indian Campground)
-
Blackwell Gap Loop Trail
- The trailhead is at the Standing Indian Campground. This
is an easy loop. The climb is only about 500 feet over a
little over one mile. The trail climbs up along one
side of Long Branch Creek, crosses the creek and comes down
along the other side.
-
Buck Knob Loop Trail
- This 1.5 mile loop uses the Appalachian Trail as part of
the loop. The first 500 feet is a steep 200 foot climb. At
the fork keep to the right. From here you have a gradual
ascent heading north and passing Buck Knob (it is on your
right). The trail then swings around and heads west and
downhill for about 200 yards, then swings to the south and
returns you to the Appalachian Trail. It is about 0.5 miles
back to the fork, down the hill and the Old Murphy Road
where you left your car.
Use the directions to
Standing Indian
BUT
instead of making the right turn onto Forest Road 67
continue about 200 yards more on Old Murphy Road. There is a
sign marking the crossing of the Appalachian Trail. Usually
there is room to park here. Take the Appalachian Trail on
the north (left) side of the road.
-
Hurricane Creek Loop
Trail - This trailhead is 2.3 miles beyond the
entrance to Standing Indian Campground; park in the
pull-out.
-
Laurel Falls Trail -
Follow the directions to Standing Indian. This trailhead is
4.8 miles beyond the entrance to Standing Indian Campground;
park in the pull-out. There is an excellent, first hand,
description at
ncwaterfalls.com by Rich Stevenson, an avid waterfalls
photographer.
-
Mooney Falls Trail -
this trailhead is about 400 yards further along FR-67 than
Laurel Falls Trail. Again, we refer you to Rich Stevenson's
descriptions at
ncwaterfalls.com.
-
Park Creek Loop Trail
- The trailhead is at the Standing Indian Campground.
-
Park Ridge Loop Trail
- The trailhead is at the Standing Indian Campground.
-
Wasilik Poplar Trail
- Follow the directions to the
Standing Indian
BUT,
from the intersection of Forest Road 67 at Old Murphy Rd
drove only 0.5 miles to the Rock Gap parking area. The trail
is on the left side of the road, crosses the Appalachian
Trail, then descends abruptly to the Wasilik Poplar (about
0.7 miles). The Forest Service has a page on their web site
with a good description of the Poplar: view it at
fs.fed.us.
-
Little Tennessee River Greenway - currently
four-miles long, this 13-foot wide path, much of which used
to be the right-of-way of the Tallulah Falls Railroad. The
history of how this came to be a public greenway is well
worth reading (it is on their
web site).
Bicycles are welcome as are dogs on leash. At the southern
end of the Greenway is Big Bear Park complete with
restrooms, barbecue pit and an excellent playground.
