This year, though, we run it with added enthusiasm because one of the trails mentioned has just reopened after being closed for nearly a year: the Mount Mitchell Trail at Mount Mitchell State Park. A couple quick caveats:

• Until earlier this week, Mountain Mitchell had been closed because of damage caused a year ago by Hurricane Helene. The closure was the result of extensive damage to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the only way to reach the ridgeline park. This week, the Parkway reopened. Or a portion of it did.
• You can now get to Mount Mitchell via the Parkway, but only if you are coming from Asheville; the Parkway remains closed from just north of Mount Mitchell to milepost 334 near Little Switzerland. 
• And if you’re thinking, “I don’t need to drive up from Asheville, I’ll just hike up the Mount Mitchell trail from the Black Mountain  Campground,” well, that trail remains closed.

OK, all that said, now we move on to our fall hikes. Specifically, our 10 thoughts on the subject based on two thingsL

1. The temperature. Hike in the mountains and you could be starting out in temperatures in the 40s!
2. Fall color. Hike in the mountains, and high enough in the mountains (above 5,500 feet), and you could see the start of some pretty good color.

Now, our recommendations, all of which are all in the mountains. Enjoy!

North Carolina

1. Black Mountain Crest Trail

Mount Mitchell State Park

North Carolina

Might as well start at the top, atop 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell, the highest point on the East Coast. Anchoring the north end of the Black Mountain Crest Trail, you can start from the state park’s snackateria and hit several peaks above 6,000 feet and see a good color show consisting of fire cherry, yellow birch, mountain ash and mountain maple. Note: the Crest rail is technically challenging, with mild scrambling in spots. Fortunately, the best view is from the nearest peak: Mount Craig.

More info here.

2. Tanawha Trail / Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway

North Carolina

The 13-mile Tanawha at the base of Grandfather Mountain is best known for its rocky southern half. But put in at Boone Fork and head north and you’ll spend time initially in a mature hardwood forest, later in small rolling meadows that offer intimate exposure to the Blue Ridge’s less aggressive side. You’ll also find more potential for early color on the northern end. Additional advantage: paralleling the Blue Ridge Parkway as it does, you’ll find it super easy to set shuttles — along the 13.5-mile length of the trail there are 11 access points.

More info here.

3. Linville Gorge

Pisgah National Forest

North Carolina

One of our favorite hikes in the state, the 2.2-mile trail up to Shortoff Mountain from the end of Wolf Pit Road is a good climb, but pays off in three miles of trail with repeated outcrop views up the gorge, down into the gorge and beyond, to Lake James. On a clear, crisp fall day you may not experience better color. In spots, the gorge rises 1,300 feet above the Linville River (which drops 2,000 vertical feet from the north end to the south), offering one of the most awe-inspiring views in the state. If you’re comfortable hiking in the dark (back to your car) and driving a windy forest service road in the dark, plan to be on Shortoff around sundown for one of the best sunsets around.

More info here.

4. Mountain Trail

Pilot Mountain State Park

North Carolina

Pilot Mountain, with its distinctive knob towering 1,400 feet above the surrounding countryside, is a hot spot when autumn’s colors heat up. Avoid the resulting crowds by picking up the 4.5-mile Mountain Trail from the little-used Corridor Access. The connecting Grindstone Trail takes you to the top, for great views. Another option for avoiding fall crowds: take the new 3.3-mile Pilot Creek Trail, which starts low on the north side of the park and connects with the Mountain and Grindstone trails for a trip to the summit.

More info here.

4. Uwharrie Trail: Sections 3 & 4

Uwharrie National Forest

North Carolina

So maybe you live in the Piedmont and don’t have time to visit the mountains but still want a mountain-like experience: you need to pay a visit to North Carolina’s under-appreciated mountain range, the Uwharries. Located within an hour and a half of Charlotte, the Triad and the Triangle, the Uwharries offer peaks reaching 1,000 feet (hey, it’s the Piedmont!) and one awesome view, which you can reach from the Jumpin’ Off Rock trailhead. Take the Uwharrie Trail north following a creek for a ways, then climbing Little Long Mountain for the best view in the Uwharries. Continuing north, it tops out on 1,020-foot King Mountain, the highest point on the Uwharrie Trail. Lots of good fall hardwoods along the way.

More info here.

5. Summit Trail

Elk Knob State Park

Todd

Elk Knob is the perfect early season fall destination. At 5,520 feet, it offers unsurpassed views (nearly 360 degrees), but it’s the view to the north that’s especially captivating in fall. We’ll let the park website explain why: “Elk Knob contains an excellent example of a northern hardwood forest … typically found above 4,000 feet in elevation [are] sugar maple, yellow birch, American beech, and yellow buckeye.” That is, the trees that give forests in New England their vaunted glow. In addition, from atop Elk Knob you can see Three Top and Bluff mountains, Mount Jefferson, Grandfather Mountain, Mount Mitchell, Mt. Rogers in Virginia and the Iron Mountains in Virginia and Tennessee. And it’s not just the summit: the 1.9-mile hike to the top is one one of the most well-crafted trails around.

More info here.

6. Moore’s Wall Loop Trail

Hanging Rock State Park

Danbury

Mountain-top 360-degree views are few in the Piedmont. At Hanging Rock, you have two. Hanging Rock proper is just 1.3 miles from the Visitor Center, making it a popular choice for the masses who descend on fall weekends. Less popular is the 4.7-mile Moore’s Wall Loop, which, regardless of whether you hike it clockwise (our choice) or counter, requires payment in leg labor for the resulting views. Ah, but what views they are: to the west (Blue Ridge) and north (Virginia’s George Washington National Forest) you can watch the color cascading your way. Or, hiked in late October into November, look south and east to see the Piedmont light up in the distance.

More info here.

Virginia

1. Hawksbill Mountain

Shenandoah National Park

Virginia

At 4,050 feet, Hawksbill is the highest point in the Shenandoah National Park, and thus, presumably, the first place to spot fall color. Take the steep 1.7-mile out-and-back or the 2.9-mile loop trail, from MP 45.6 on Skyline Drive. Connect to the Appalachian Trail to extend your hiking time. The hike is a favorite of our GetHiking! Charlottesville group.

More info here.

2. Rock Castle Gorge

Blue Ridge Parkway

Virginia

A hidden favorite that’s surprisingly close to the Triad area. Start from the base, at the VA 605 access and get your climbing out of the way early, with a 3-mile hike up the Blue Ridge Escarpment to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here, follow the trail south for 3.5 miles through mountain meadows (the cows are friendly), until a rocky 1.5-mile descent back into the gorge. Your last 2.8 miles is a steady descent on old roadbed along Rock Castle Creek. A 10.8-mile with enough distractions to keep your mind off the fact the elevation on this hike ranges from 1,700 to nearly 3,600 feet. Along the way you’ll pass through rhododendron hells, along a frisky mountain stream, past long-abandoned buildings.

More info here.

Peaks of Otter

3. Peaks of Otter

Virginia

It gets a little crowded, though the challenging terrain thins the crowds on certain trails. In fact, that’s one of the advantages here. Got a mix of hikers in your group? The die-hards head one way, the strollers another. The latter will also appreciate the civilities here: the visitor center, the lodge, the restrooms.

More info here.

4. Mount Rogers

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

Virginia

Mount Rogers and the adjoining Grayson Highlands State Park offer a trip out West in southwest Virginia. Rock outcrops and vast open spaces offer the type of wide-open experience folks head to the Rockies for. The only place you won’t find a view? Atop Mount Rogers, at 5,729 feet the highest point in Virginia.

More info here.

The post 10 of our Favorite Fall Mountain Hikes appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

And the truth is, not matter how long the trail and how much time you have, even a long hike — a really long hike — can’t solve all your problems. But, as I discovered, a hike of even two hours can certainly take the edge off. And if you can invest an entire day on the trail? So much better.

We have a collection of long hikes that we draw from hen we have the time, the motivation, and the need, to spend the day divorced from the world. Here are nine favorites.

Company Mill Trail with Sycamore Loop

Umstead State Park, Raleigh

10 miles

A figure-eight double lollipop loop that exposes you to the best of Umstead. Starting from the Harrison Avenue entrance (a k a the Reedy Creek entrance), take the Company Mill Trail over three small ridges to Crabtree Creek. Cross the green metal bridge and go right. You’ll follow Crabtree for a spell, climb to the bike and bridle trail that bisects the park and continue. Shortly, you’ll hit a kiosk indicating a short spur to the Sycamore Trail; do the 4-mile loop portion of Sycamore, then return to the Company Mill Trail and hike the portion you haven’t. Lots of up and down on this hike, but nothing grueling. Be advised that the first mile of Company Mill, down to Crabtree Creek, can be crowded on a nice weekend; it becomes less popular from there.

More info here

Birkhead Mountain Wilderness lollipop loop

Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro
11.8 miles

Starting from the trailhead off Tot Hill Road, hike the Birkhead Mountain Trail south for two miles before hitting the popular loop that Boy Scouts, among others, have been using for years to cut their backpacking teeth. Where the Robbins Branch Trail enters from the right, continue straight on the Birkhead for two miles. (Despite the fact this is a designated wilderness, the trail is well blazed.) After two miles, go right on the Hannahs Creek Trail, where, for the first time, you abandon ridgelines in favor of passage along holly-clogged creeks. After a mile and a half, go right on the Robbins Branch Trail, which climbs a ridge before dropping to its namesake creek and rejoining the Birkhead after 3.2 miles. A great hike year-round, but winter is the only time you’ll catch views from the ridge.

More info: For information on hiking the Uwharries, consult the “Uwharrie Lakes Region Trail Guide,” by Don Childrey, here; find a detailed trip description of the 22.9-mile hike from NC 24/27 to the Jumpingoff Rock Trailhead in “Backpacking North Carolina” (UNC Press, 2011).

Moore’s Knob and Indian Creek trails

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury
11.5 miles

Starting from the Visitor Center, the 4.3-mile Moore’s Knob Loop Trail offers a dandy warm-up, passing the lake and bathhouse, then probing a tunnel of holly. About a mile in, it’s time to get down to business, with a long ridge ascent to Moore’s Knob. Continue the loop back to the Visitor Center for Round 2: the Indian Creek Trail descends to Hidden and Window falls, then drops its load of hikers before continuing another three miles to the Dan River. And back. Moore’s Knob offers the best views in the park and is considerably less crowded than the park’s namesake creek. Least crowded of all is Indian Creek Trail beyond the falls. An especially good option if you need to take a break midway — or you need to warm up.

More info here

Ridgeline Trail

Crowders Mountain State Park/Kings Mountain State Park (S.C.), Kings Mountain
12 miles
The 12-mile Ridgeline Trail joins two state parks — North Carolina’s Crowders Mountain and Kings Mountain in South Carolina, plus S.C.’s Kings Mountain National Military Park. Start from the North Carolina Visitor Center, hike to the base of Kings Pinnacle — don’t pass the opportunity to take the short spur to the top for great views— then continue south through rolling Piedmont countryside to the park’s Boulders Access, then on to the South Carolina state line (once the trail hits the Palmetto State, it is flat for the remainder). The ridgeline section may not seem sexy, but it’s the only trail in the park that’s not overrun; its quiet is amplified on a winter hike.

More info here

Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Eno River

Durham and Orange counties

10.2 miles

Starting upstream on the Eno at the Pleasant Green Access, hike up a bluff overlooking the Eno, around an abandoned quarry, through surprising stretches of steep climbs and sharp drops. Pass under Cole Mill Road and the trail mellows, heading through flood plain forest and occasionally taking a more upland route. At Guess Road you hike up to the bridge, stay on your side of the road, cross the bridge, then curl under the bridge to continue downstream. The beauty of this hike is that on parts of it, you’ll feel like you’re on a mountain hike, with quick ups and downs through narrow coves. And the rocky Eno does a good job of mimicking a mountain  stream, especially after a nice rain.

More info here

Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Falls Lake

Wake and Durham counties

21.8 miles (out of 60 total)

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs 60 miles along the south shore of Falls Lake through the Triangle. With the trail broken down into 18 day-hike sections, ranging in length from just under a mile to nearly seven, there are plenty of long-hike permutations. Here’s a favorite. Starting from the Falls Lake ranger station off NC 50, hike west. Immediately, you are in the most remote stretch of the MST along Falls Lake, a nearly seven-mile run where signs of your fellow humans are rare (save for the remains of an old tobacco barn and what appears to have been a commercial chicken coop). The trail ducks in and out of coves on the lake, loses sight of it occasionally, has some boardwalked, swampy passages. At Little Lick Creek there’s an impressive pedestrian footbridge followed by an impressively narrow and long boardwalk. From there, it’s more hiking typical of a Piedmont hardwood forest. This 21.8-mile stretch concludes at the Hickory Hill Boat Ramp: no facilities but lots of parking. There is no water along the way; be sure to pack in plenty, even in winter.
More info: For more information on navigating this stretch and for scouting your own 20-mile hike on the MST at Falls Lake, go here.

Pilot Creek Trail

Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle

6.6 miles (out and back)

Quiet and solitude are not qualities generally associated with Pilot Mountain. Over the last three years in particular, the summit of this park anchoring the west end of the Sauratown Mountain Range has become so popular that on weekends you can’t drive to the top, you must take a shuttle. Not the case when you hike from the Boyd Nelson Road access on the north side of the park. Here, catch the Pilot Creek Trail for a 3.3-mile hike that may not have the views the summit can offer, but is rich in rocky terrain and good winter vibes. At the 3.3-mile mark, if you’re hankering for those views, take the Grindstone Trail for a vigorous climb to the top. Or, do an about face for the 3.3-mile hike back.

More info here.

Great Dismal Swamp NWR

Chesapeake, Suffolk, VA 

40+ miles

One of the most memorable days of hiking I’ve had in the last 20 years was on a bitter cold, stunningly sunny day at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge outside Suffolk. I headed out early and just started walking — and walking and walking. The refuge, like many of its fellow NWRs in the region, us designed for the long saunter. More than 40 miles of natural surface roads, closed to traffic, penetrate this 113,000-acre preserve (the Great Dismal once covered more than a million acres). Though there are some shorter trails, the four “ditch trail” systems cover from 11 to 16 miles each. Flat, quiet hiking on level surface penetrating a vast swamp, hiking that accommodates miles of thought-free wandering, especially on a cold winter’s day.

More info here.

High Bridge Trail

High Bridge Trail State Park, Green Bay, VA

31.2 miles

You can’t discuss long winter hikes and not include a rail-trail in the mix. The High Bridge Trail follows the old Southside Railroad (and later, Norfolk Southern) line, which once linked Petersburg and Lynchburg. Since 2012, it’s been a recreational trail open to hiking, biking and horseback riding, and takes travelers through several towns, including Morgan, Rice, FarmVille, Tuggle, Prospect, Elam and Pamplin. Shuttles are easily set up (the trail parallels, at different points, VA 406, VA 600 and Prince Edward Highway. An especially good option for folks new to long hiking.

More info here.

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Until Sunday, when, once again, temperatures barely topping 40 accompanied by a wintry mix return. But, again, until then … . So what say we start the weekend a bit early, on Friday? If we do that, we have a couple of intriguing options:

Untitled Hike, Friday, 1 p.m., Eno River State Park, Durham. “Untitled Hike,” may not sound appealing, but read the description: “Join a Ranger to hike about 2 miles to the site of a cemetery of enslaved people on park property. We will discuss the role enslaved people of color played in the formation of the Eno River Valley as well as the history of enslavement in North Carolina. This hike will include discussions of the practice of slavery and will feature a short hike off trail (about 50 yards) as well as one creek crossing.” Off trail and history — two of the best things a hike has to offer. Free, but registration is limited; call 919.383.1686 to register. More info here.

Leaf Me Alone, Friday, 1 p.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. “Leaf litter” — a somewhat derogatory term, no? While it can have some downsides, it’s also a positive. Learn more on this hike. Learn more here.

Then, on likewise glorious Saturday:

History of the Longleaf Pine, 1 p.m., Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown. Any chance to visit Jones Lake in the winter should be taken, especially when the weather promises to be sunny and cool/warm. This hike is at the Salter Lake portion of the park. Learn more here.

BioDiversity Hike: Uwharrie National Forest, Saturday, 2 p.m., Uwharrie National Forest. Charlotte’s Reedy Creek Nature Preserve sponsors this 5- to 7-mile adventure, part of a monthly series exploring “Biodiversity together on a monthly pilgrimage around North and South Carolina.” Specifics provided upon registration. Go here for details and to register.

That’s a sampling of what’s up this weekend, a weekend that you might want to start on Friday because Sunday may not be weekend-friendly. But whatever you do, just make sure to GetOut!

And enjoy!

* * *

Looking ahead

Next weekend we’re holding our first GetOriented! Finding Your Way in the Woods map and compass session of the year, at Umstead State Park. Our 3-hour class gives you both the basic map and compass skills and the on-the-ground training to make you a more confident, competent hiker. We also have a lot of fun! Learn more and register to join us here.

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So we’ll focus on Saturday and Monday this week, with Monday being the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Our thoughts … .

Saturday

Waterfowl Hike, 9 a.m., Lake Norman State Park, Troutman. One of the many joys this time of year is the great waterfowl migration along the Atlantic Flyway. And on the long trip from Canada south, these migrating waterfowl need to stop to rest and refuel every once in a while. It’s a bit like stopping at South of the Border on your way to Florida. For migrating waterfowl, it turns out that Lake Norman’s Park Lake is the Pedro’s of the waterfowl migration. Join a ranger for a walkabout to see what who’s migrating. Learn more here.

Winter Bird Hike, 9:30 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. Another program for the birds, this one primarily focused on the park’s permanent residents. Bring ‘em if you’ve got ‘em (binos, that is). Learn more here.

Oh, Deer! 2-3 p.m., Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh. In this installment of the park’s Family Wildlife Series you’ll learn about the neighbors we all have today — deer. Why are they everywhere? Come find out. Free, but registration is required. More info here.

Monday

George Washington Carver Memorial Hike, 10 a.m., Lake James State Park., Nebo. We love a hike with a little history, especially if it’s history we’re only vaguely familiar with. On this hike, for instance, you’ll learn about crop rotation and the scientist who pioneered the concept, George Washington Carver. Learn more here.

Next weekend

The forecast for next weekend is winter perfect for being out in the woods. Good to hear, since we’ll be holding our first GetHiking! Weekend Escape of the year, at Jones Lake State Park southeast of Fayetteville. Two days of hiking around Jones Lake, two nights of stargazing under one of the least light-polluted skies in the state. Learn more and sign up to join us here.

Parting thought

Another possibility for Saturday: chopping firewood and stocking up on provisions. The forecast appears to be trending away from powder, more toward power outage.

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You’re eager to show your visiting friends and family why you love living in the region: the outdoor opportunities that make this such a wonderful place to explore. You also don’t want to alienate your guests — or worse, harm them! — by taking them on an outing beyond their capabilities. Fortunately, you can do the former while avoiding the latter with the 10 hikes below, hikes that offer considerable esthetic bang for minimal physical exertion. 

We give a short description of why these hikes are suitable for the non-adventurous in your life, then provide a link for additional information.

Coast, coastal plain

The Basin Trail

2.2 miles (out and back)

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach

Spending time at the coast this holiday season? This hike, just outside Wilmington, starts at the Atlantic Ocean and makes its way through open marsh (the soggier parts are on elevated boardwalk) to The Basin on the sound side. At the midpoint, visit an old World War II munitions bunker that was later home, for more than a decade, to the Fort Fisher Hermit.

More info here.

Bay Trail

4 miles

Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown

Need to get your beloved visitors out of the house for the day? Send them to Jones Lake southeast of Fayetteville for a 4-mile meander around a regional oddity: a Carolina bay. No one is quite sure how these shallow, oval-shaped bays originated (the result of a meteor shower is the best bet), but there were once a half million of them along the East Coast. The hike around this surviving bay is half pine savanna, half swampy bay forest, all flat.

More info here.

Charlotte area

The Boulders Access

0.5 miles

Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain

Lure your hiking-recalcitrant crew to The Boulders with the promise of seeing the boulders just a short hike from the car. Then, when they’re smitten, suggest hiking just a little farther, a little farther, a little farther on the Ridgeline Trail, which will take you either south into South Carolina or north for about six miles to the main part of Crowders Mountain State Park.

More info here.

Triangle

The Peaks Loop

1/2 mile

Horton Grove Nature Preserve, Bahama

This half-mile trail is especially alluring in late fall, with the mature beech forest casting a brilliant yellow glow over a carpet of copper leaves. Ridgeline and valley hiking, with a short drop in, a short climb out on well-groomed trail. Want more? Tack on the 0.8-mile Holman Loop through a recovering Piedmont prairie.

More info here. 

Seven Mile Creek Natural Area

2 miles

Orange County southwest of Hillsborough

You’ll find some of the foot-friendliest trail around on this ramble through mature upland woods and down to Seven Mile Creek, a spritely creek that, shortly, feeds into the Eno River. The preserve’s difficult-to-find trailhead all but insures you’ll avoid holiday crowds.

More info here.

Pump Station Trail

1.5 miles

Pump Station Access, Eno River State Park, Durham

An especially good hike for kids — closely supervised kids — because it takes in the ruins of the old Durham waterworks. Brick foundations, an old dam, and other remnants of the long-abandoned water plant make for great kid exploring. The trail includes a stretch along a particularly rocky run of the Eno.

More info here.

De hart Botanical Garden

up to 4 miles

Louisburg

A short hike in gets you to a waterfall, a bamboo garden and a lake with a rock outcrop perfect for hanging out on. Venture farther and you’ll find another waterfall and one of the oldest white oak trees in the region. Something is always in bloom at this 92-acre preserve off U.S. 401 between Raleigh and Louisburg.

More info here.

Triad

Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area

2.5 miles

Snow Camp

Live in the Triad or Triangle and don’t have time to visit the mountains? How about the mountains in our midst, the Cane Creek Mountains south of Burlington? You’ll get an Appalachian-type experience on this 2.5-mile loop that traverses surprisingly rocky terrain before topping out just below 1,000 feet. A bit more of a physical investment, but the payoff is worth it.

More info here. 

Horne Creek Trail

2.5 miles

Bean Shoals Access, Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle

The main parking area atop Pilot Mountain gets so crowded on weekends that hikers are now shuttled from the base to the summit. Avoid Pilot’s plenty by heading to the Bean Shoals Access and hiking this flatter stretch of trail that includes intimate Horne Creek and the expansive Yadkiin River.

More info here.

Little Long Mountain

1.6 miles (out and back) 

Uwharrie National Forest, Asheboro

From the Joe Moffitt Trailhead it’s a 0.8-mile hike up the north side of the 922-foot mountain (you’ll pass a spring midway, on your left) to the best on-trail view in the Uwharrie range. From the summit meadow you have a 240-degree view from the east to the south to the west; early risers can catch sunrise, night-owls sunset and the rest of us an expansive view of this relict central North Carolina mountain range.

More info here.

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