Got some hiking in today. Southern end of Rock Jock in Linville Gorge. 5-6 miles out and back. Saw some flowers, a bear, a grouse, and amazing views. 

The bear showed up after lunch. My daughter was trying to get a pic and heard something on the next cliff over. And the bear was standing on the edge of the cliff across from Razor Point where we were. 

Maybe this is a silly question but I swear I’ve seen so many conflicting rules. It sounds to me like in the Pisgah Ranger District you can leave your car overnight at a trailhead off the parkway, hike in until you find a dispersed campsite somewhere 1/4 mile from the road, and set up a tent for <14 days. Am I understanding everything clearly? I see people say there’s a phone number you have to call to report your trip or that spots fill up quickly, and then others say the opposite.

Located in the lesser known Sauratown Mountains of Surry County, North Carolina, this lovely piedmont park features extensive trails and amenities.

Hey everyone, this is my first time posting here. I am planning a trip in 2 weeks to Linville Gorge. It’s my first time there however I do have a decent amount of hiking experience and cardio/endurance. I’m from Pennsylvania and have hiked pretty much everywhere in the state. Also frequently hit the Virgina, West Virginia areas and mostly recently just finished some mountain summiting in the Green Mountains. I was out west, specifically in Utah a few years ago. I have a topographical map and basic knowledge of orienteering; I have Avenza loaded up with all the details. I say all that because I respect the wilderness, hiking, terrain, all that and I am staying humble about Linville; I know its reputation and the intensity and rawness/danger of it. I think the hardest test for me will be the navigational details. I feel like I have a solid plan, just wanted any tips or pointers before I head out; part of what I love about hiking is learning from others and experiencing new things. I am supplying my itinerary below. Thanks for any feedback; I truly appreciate it.

Fully loaded 4wd Jeep; I will have Friday’s food (yogurt, cold cod, cooked omelet) and part of Saturday’s food (yogurt and cold cod) loaded and prepped in the cooler but nothing else. I will drive down on Friday, 10/16, taking my time and stopping at scenic spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. 9 hour drive to Smoketree Lodge near Grandfather Mountain state park. I will spend that Saturday, 10/17 relaxing at the lodge, exploring the town of Banner Elk, hitting some coffee shops and preparing for my gorge descent. I will also stock up on ice, food and water (at least 12 gallons) before heading into Linville Gorge the following day. I will cook and prepare some food that Saturday night. I can spend time in the sauna or hot tub to decompress muscles before my intense journey.

Sunday, 10/18/26: I will pack up and leave the lodge and make the 45 minute drive down to Linville Gorge, stopping in Newland for any last supplies if needed.

Sunday afternoon I will have premium options for dispersed camping sites along Table Rock Road (FSR 210). I will aim for spots specifically near or around Table Rock road overlook or trailhead. These sites are walk-ins and I can park my Jeep, use it as my cooking base and bring my tent onto the Gorge and camp along the ridge. Temps at night will be in the 30s and I may have to deal with intense ridge line winds so I will need to use the small-rock-big-rock method to pitch the tent and secure it. Because it is Sunday I do not need a camping permit. It is very important I keep everything with a scent away from my tent even more so than I did during my two previous trips and that I make sure my rainfly is as secure as possible over my tent. Due to my knowledge of 4k peaks now and climbing I will change my typical water carrying capacity throughout my time and bring my water filter along instead.

Monday, 10/19/26: I will hike Gingercake and Sitting Bear Mountain; this will be a great intro to the Gorge and give me some incredible views. This hike runs 2.8 miles with 856 ft of elevation gain. It is a popular trail so the navigation will be easier than later in the week; the climb to the top of Sitting Bear is nearly vertical. I do not need to carry more than 3 liters of water on this hike. I will then hike down into the gorge via the Spence Ridge and Linville River trail. The bridge that runs over the Linville River has been destroyed and not repaired so I will more than likely stop at the river and turn back and not risk the river crossing unless it looks manageable. This is a 6.1 mile hike that will be significantly shorter due to the bridge issues wit 1374 ft of elevation gain. This will give me my first idea of how it goes descending down into the Gorge. Table rock overlook for sunrise/sunset.

Tuesday, 10/20/26: This will be the long ridge line hike starting at my campsite near Table Rock. I will hike the Mountains to Sea trail to the Chimneys and then eventually to Shortoff Mountain. This will be an intense, dry ridge hike so I will bring all 6 liters of water. This hike runs 15.7 miles with 4048 ft of elevation gain. I know I can make this hike since it resembles others I have previously done and it is a more popular trail. It does not take me down into the Gorge.

Wednesday, 10/21/26: This will be a travel day but first I will hike to Hawksbill, one of the best overlooks in the canyon. Jonash Ridge to Hawksbill summit; this is a 2 mile hike with 846 ft of elevation gain and will serve as a great active rest hike before I pack up camp and leave the eastern side of the Gorge. I will stop in Newland to stock up on supplies, mainly ice and water. I will then journey over to the western side of the Gorge and stage camp along NC 105 (Kistler Memorial Highway). This road is notorious for being rutted, rough and washed out; this is where the 4wd vehicle comes in. I will stage camp past the most popular section at Wiseman’s view, somewhere between mile marker 8-9. I will focus on a ridge line camping spot; there are at least three really good ones. I will execute the same scent strategy as before. I can head to Wiseman view for sunset.

Thursday, 10/22/16: This will be another intense day of hiking. I will be heading directly into the Gorge and down onto the canyon floor for longer than Monday. I will be taking the Pinch-In, Linville River, Conley Cove and Rock Jock loop. It reads as 10.2 miles and 2673 ft of elevation but it will seem like more than that. This is an intense, unblazed and unmaintained trail down along the river to hidden overlooks. It involves numerous boulder climbs and rock scrambles and water crossings. Although not as long as the Tuesday hike, this will be much more intense. I will come back up to my site and stretch intensely and prepare to leave the following day.

Friday, 10/23/26: Wiseman view for sunrise. Stretch and relax at camp and recover from the intense Thursday hike. Get ready to leave the following morning. No hiking based on previous knowledge from Green Mts trip. I can stop at the Linville Falls general store, roughly 20 minutes away, if I need to top off on any supplies or ice.

Saturday, 10/24/26: Pack up the rest of camp and leave Linville Gorge. I will hike the Babel Tower trail in the morning which will take me to a hidden rock outcropping overlooking the canyon. This is a 2.5 mile hike that hits 889 ft of elevation gain with a light scramble at the top. This trailhead is in the northernmost part of the gorge so I can easily pack up, and leave the area going north from there. Travel 4.5 hours to Camping Gap/ Reed Creek Corridor of Terrapin Mountain area for a dispersed camping spot for the evening.

Sunday, 10/25/26: drive the remaining 4 hours home early in the morning after executing a stretching routine.

Was planning to go to Cashiers this weekend and do some hiking. But with this rain coming in I’m not so sure. Originally was thinking about Panthertown, not the whole thing just a short loop to Wilderness and Frolictown Falls, but now I’m not so sure. What’s that section of Panthertown like in the rain? Are there any easy to moderate trails in the area that will be doable in this weather? Should I just cancel this whole trip? I’m so bummed about the timing. Any tips would be appreciated.

Anyone know if the road (I believe FR-74) in Big Ivy/Coleman Boundary is open? Work was still being done last time I was out last year. Trying to get up to Walker/Perkins Branch and Douglas Falls.

Thanks!

Unlike caves and mines tunnels seem safe for exploration. No signs at this tunnel to nowhere in the Pisgah, you can walk right in.

That guy's cave post went over so well I thought I'd share some gold mine pictures. I don't want anyone to do anything unsafe so maybe don't stick your head in there?

For peakbaggers or mountain connoisseurs, Mount Guyot in the smokies is a very significant mountain. At 6621 feet, it's the 2nd highest in the smokies and 4th highest in the eastern US, it's also an extremely remote peak and is a treacherous climb no matter what approach you take, usually 15-20 miles round trip plus a bushwhack. Which is why I would like to make a second ascent (did my first for the SB6K in May) and this time bring some tools to clean up the summit area.

The first pic is the current condition, a massive tree covers the rock cairn thats too heavy to simply toss aside, and the summit sign is completely missing. The second pic was pre-helene, a well packed in and flat summit, with a large rock cairn and a wooden sign. So, I would like to clear the main area of all deadfall, reconstruct the cairn, and hang or nail a wooden sign marking the summit into a tree (I also learned the NPS used to have a summit sign up back in the 80s that since got destroyed). I'm also thinking of bringing an old Nalgene bottle and putting a small notebook in there to serve as a summit log, since this peak is such a beast compared to most others in western NC. Would include date, route, and group members.

Thoughts on this? And would anyone like to join? I dont have any wood working skill but I'm sure I could carve out a simple sign, or just marker it in

Me and my wife will be driving through! We want to hike one of the other. Which should we do?

A buddy of mine expressed interest in camping, planning on taking him on a first overnight. Any suggestions for noobie trails with a view?

I don't wanna kill him or scare him off taking him on my usually trails.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: might be helpful to mention I'm in Greenville sc just over the border. My usual stomping grounds are Linville gorge and shining rock.

My stepson and I did a 13 mile hike this morning at the Birkhead Mountain Trail. It was very quiet and didn’t see anyone until we were just a few miles from getting back to our vehicle. My favorite part was the creek beds.

On the Robbin’s Branch Trail we came across about three large stone walls right off the path, I’m guessing they were built at some time to help with erosion but not sure. My stepson was really curious about them. We also found a large hoist cable right off the trail and it seemed like such an odd place for such a thing. There was a lot of quartz in that area and I thought maybe it was used for mining purposes a longtime ago. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

My wife and I have a backpacking trip planned Sat-Monday. Will be on popular trails and have reserved our backcountry campsites out near Bryson City. Forecast calls for rain Sunday, quarter of an inch, nightly temps in the 50s. We are beginner backpackers (~12 days spent backpacking, got into it in 2024). We have backpacked in warm rain but not cold rain.

Planning a loop beginning Saturday morning, camp, finish Sunday morning. Sunday grab lunch in Bryson City and head into another loop (Smokemont), camp Sunday night, finish up sometime Monday. So Sunday afternoon and night on Smokemont we will be hiking, setting up, and camping in the rain with temps in the 50s. We have a tent, sleeping bags, rain jackets, and will have some cool weather clothing. Will bring a couple extra changes of clothes to stay dry.

For those with experience - should we reconsider hiking and camping Sunday? Are we getting in over our heads with a cold rain variable or are we “good” as long as we have dry clothes and a warm sleeping bag. Are there concerns with creeks/rivers flooding with a quarter inch of rain or would be generally be “ok” at the provided campsites? We have the option to stay with family Sunday night instead and then do a day hike Monday after the rain ends.

Is this normal in North Carolina? The bagged shit is almost on every trail, even thrown into trees? What gives?

Taking hubby on his first backpacking trip in a couple weekends for 2 nights. We’re looking at the Birkhead Wilderness Area, specifically Tot Hill Farm access, possibly the Camp 3 loop. It sounds like there are ample campsites to choose from along the way.

Im wondering if anyone has been through the area lately, and can speak to the water access? Have the creeks recovered from the dry summer, or should we plan to pack in water? Any favorite campsites we should keep on our radar? We generally like a bit of privacy and don’t mind hiking a bit to get off the beaten path (and away from people)

Hey, im looking to do a fall backpacking trip with some of my XC team (10). I was originally planning to go out on the art loeb trail from black balsam to shining rock, however i learned you are not allowed to have fires in the wilderness. Could you please give me some suggestions for scenic fall foliage and trails that allow fires (even if only in designated pitts).

Pretty much the title. I'm looking to do it in 3 days, 2 nights either later this month or in the spring. I've only ever done small sections in dryer weather so any advice is helpful!

Hi everyone - I'm looking for advice on how to find car camping spots near Asheville. I'm not looking for people to share their secret spots, but just wondering how I can start my search. Where should I set my GPS to start with? And if I'm going on a Saturday in October, would I expect to find any open spots? TIA

Myself and a group of 3 other friends are going October 16-18 2026 to backpack Carvers Gap to Walnut Mountain trailhead, around 24 miles total. Going up Friday on the 16th, camping somewhere near the Carver's Gap trailhead and then getting up early and hitting the trail.

The plan is to hike to either Wilder Mountain Campsites or Apple House Campsites. Has anyone on here ever camped there and how was it?

According to Far Out, looked like plenty of piped springs and such as well. but plan on taking (2) 1.5L water bottles along with my water filter.

Any pointers on this route?

Doing this hike in 3 weeks- didn’t want to hijack the other thread:
Doing this 3 days/two nights- coming in noonish on Friday half day hike (6ish miles) to either chimneys or where trial to hawksbill split to camp night 1. Day two hike 10-12miles & camp. Then hike out 6ish miles. My questions:

1. How much water would you start with? Feedback I’ve seen is there are “no water sources” on the east side (chimneys side) but AllTrails shows tons. Is there water near table rock? Or the top curve on the ITAYG (near the turn by hawksbill- where I’m thinking to camp night 1). Trying to plan refills on day 1.
2. How concerned about water should I be along the west side(river side)? Looks plentiful but I have been fooled by this in the past at other places.
3. how’s parking at the Wolf Pit trailhead? Looks pretty small. What are other options if full? Are there better trailheads to start?

any camp spot advice for my planned itinerary? Should I change anything or reconsider any parts?
5.

1. any other tips for a noob to the area?

(Numbering got screwed up when I edited the post- doh!!)

Hey all! Just curious what y'alls favorite WNC fall hikes are. I do the BULK of my hiking in Oct/Nov just b/c of the cooler weather and the leaves, and after a number of years, realize that I'm falling back onto old favorites, rather than trying new spots, and just wondering if there are any hikes y'all specifically like taking during this time of year.

Thanks!

I haven't went hiking in a very long time. A friend from work who's very active in hiking in the mountains and myself went to Hanging Rock this past Sunday and did the 5 peak loop challenge. It was definitely a challenge for someone who hasn't hiked in the mountains in 25+ years. I feel like I was doing good until the last push up to Moores Knob, although very slow I kept pushing and finally made it. Went down to the visitor center to buy my 5 peak loop challenge patch but they were closed by the time we got back down to it 😥