This post ran four years ago after our last significant snow. We rerun it again, tweaked, because the circumstance is similar — for some of us, at least. It snowed last weekend — for some of us — it’s been cold since, and — again, for some of us — a fair amount of snow remains. And who doesn’t love to hike in snow!
A quick advisory pertinent to our current snow event: though it has been cold out, it has been sunny and there has been a bit of a freeze/thaw cycle. The temperature warms into the upper 30s during the sunny days, causing a little snow to melt, it cools into the teens over night causing that melt to freeze. Thus, you can be looking at crusty, icy, rock-snow on the trail, conditions that will cause you to slip and/or twist an ankle. Poles are especially crucial under such conditions. Revere the remaining snow, but respect it as well.
One more thing. This post is relevant, too, because more snow is in the forecast. Again, revere and respect.
That said, with some snow remaining, where’s the best place to find it this weekend?
On north-facing slopes.
Just about anywhere you regularly hike in the rolling piedmont will have a north-facing slope significant enough to keep winter’s low-lying sun from completely melting even a light dusting. One way to find out where those slopes are is at caltopo.com, where you can zero in on your area of interest, click on “Slope Angle Shading,” pick the degree of angle and find those north-facing slopes. Another way is to check out our list five favorite hikes with north-facing slopes, below.
Five Favorite Post-Snow Hikes
- Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough. Hike the 2.2-mile Mountain Loop Trail (your destination is slightly closer hiking counterclockwise), and as the trail snuggles up to the Eno River, a 30-foot north facing bluff keeps it cool enough to support a colony of plants more common to the Southern Appalachians, including mountain laurel, rhododendron and galax, which look all the better against snow. Details and directions here.
- Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle (north of Winston-Salem). The 3.3-mile Pilot Creek Trail starts from an access north of the pinnacle (meaning fewer hikers) and wraps around the north flank of the 2,421-foot mountain. You should see remaining snow much of the way. Details and directions here.
- Cane Creek Natural Area, Snow Hill (south of Burlington). This new 5-year-old preserve offers a unique chance to explore the compact Cane Creek Mountain range, which tops out around 1,000 feet. From the Pine Hill Trailhead, take the 2.5-mile Northern Approach Trail counterclockwise; you’ll spend nearly 80 percent of the hike on the leeward (in a sunshine sense) side of the mountain. Details and directions here.
- Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury (north of Greensboro). On a sunny winter’s day Hanging Rock will be one popular state park. But not if you start from the Flinchum Road Access on the Dan River and hike up the Indian Creek Trail, which stays in the shadow of the park for most of its length. Bonus: hike 3 miles up to Window Falls, enjoy a snowy waterfall, then head back down the mountain and avoid the crowds trickling down from the Visitor Center above. Details and directions here.
- Knight Brown Nature Preserve, Stokesdale (north of Greensboro). This 189-acre preserve courtesy the Piedmont Land Conservancy features a bowl served by three trails — Beechwood Bottom, Creekside, Leatherwood — that offer about three miles of hiking, much of it, especially along Belews Creek, protected from the sun. Details and directions here.
Again, if you can’t make it out this weekend, more snow is in the forecast for next week.
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Learn more
For more detailed information and direction on exploring Cane Creek and the Knight Brown Nature Preserve, check out our guides for both areas: