Uphillhike

Category: Trail Guides

  • Trail Guide – Mitchell Lick Trail No. 154

    Trail Guide – Mitchell Lick Trail No. 154

    Trail Guide – Mitchell Lick Trail No. 154 (2.5 miles)

    From signed intersection with King Meadows Trail near Hooper Bald, Mitchell Lick Trail frequently follows old logging roads approximately 2.5 miles to a signed (barely legible and rotten sign) trail junction at the upper end of Snowbird Creek trail.  Mitchell Lick Trail allows for a nice overnight hike using King Meadows trail to make a loop that includes the entire length of Snowbird Creek trail.  A side trip to the top of Hooper Bald would be a worthwhile addition to the loop hike. Another side trip to Sassafras Falls should be considered. Mitchell Lick Trail is seldom hiked and can be difficult to follow at times.  The heavily wooded trail maintains elevation above 4000 feet as it crosses below ridge tops as it occasionally dips down to creeks during its cross slope traverse between the lower slopes of Hooper Bald and the headwaters of Snowbird Creek.

     

    Areas: Snowbird Wilderness Study Area

     

    Connecting Trails:

    Snowbird Creek Trail

    Kings Meadow Trail

     

    Snowbird Area Trails:

    Hooper Bald Trail

    Burntrock Ridge Trail

    Sassafras Falls Trail

     

    Map and trail details:

    Mitchell Lick Trail and the upper portion of Snowbird Creek trail are shown with the heavy blue line. Kings Meadow is in yellow and the route to Hooper Bald via Kings Meadow trail and the half mile Hooper Bald trail are shown with a green trace. To complete the loop, the remainder of Snowbird Creek and Sassafras Creek trails are also traced in yellow.

    If traveling in the direction from Hooper Bald toward Mitchell Lick (Snowbird Creek), take care where you can see from the track that I left the trail. This is not a problem traveling in the other direction.  Starting from signed trail junction with Mitchell Lick trail and King Meadows trail, look for a spot 0.2 miles from the sign where the trail splits. You should go right, dropping off the ridge top. At 0.5 miles and a gradual 206 ft descent beyond the trail sign, reach a point where the trail turns right and steeply descends for about 150 feet to rocky creek bed. Warning: It is easy to miss where the trail bears right here because a well worn trail proceeds straight ahead along the ridge line. I piled sticks to help future hikers realize the trail does not proceed straight ahead.

    After reaching the rocky creek bed, walk down the creek bed about 50 feet looking for trail on left.

    Directions to Hooper Bald and access to Mitchell Lick trail.

    Follow Snowbird Road 4.7 miles to Highway 143 (Cherehola Highway) and continue another  14.4 miles to Hooper Bald parking lot on your left. There are restrooms and picnic table at the parking lot. Hooper Bald is a half mile walk up trail from the parking lot. To reach Mitchell Lick trail, take the Hooper Bald trail and look for a trail sign only a few hundred yards beyond the parking lot. Turn right and descend on King Meadows trail. It will pass through overgrown areas and a number of split log crossings of small brooks. Some parts of the trail near its intersection with Mitchell Lick trail are hard to follow. You may see surveyor’s tape marking the trail.


    Directions to Snowbird Trailhead with access to Mitchell Lick trail via long hikes on either Snowbird Creek trail or King Meadows Trail (7.5 miles).

    Link to Google Map Directions: Robbinsville, NC to Snowbird Trail Head

     

    Turn by Turn Directions:

    From Topton and Andrews, enter Robbinsville on Hwy 129.

    Turn right on North Main Street.

    After proceeding through downtown Robbinsville, bear to the right on tight curve, Junaluska Road.

    Junaluska Road shortly becomes Snowbird Road. Proceed on Snowbird Road for 4.7 miles

    Turn left to stay on Snowbird road for another 2.1 miles. (There is a sign for Snowbird Complex?)

    About 0.1 mile after passing intersection with Cornsilk Branch Road where there is another sign for Snowbird Complex, look for a 180 degree turn on Snowbird Road that descends immediately following the turn. (There is no sign and it is easy to miss. )

    Immediately after a crossing bridge, turn right on a small road (Big Snowbird Road) with one-lane bridge. Cross the one-lane bridge. You will also see a sign at this junction that shows “Little Snowbird” straight ahead and Big Snowbird to the right. The key is to look for the one lane bridge on right.

    Continue straight onto Big Snowbird Rd.

    This road eventually turns into one lane unpaved Forest Service Road 75 with occasional campsites alongside Snowbird Creek. The road dead ends at a turnabout where there is a campsite and trailhead sign.   –  4.09 mi (plus another 4 – 5 miles after Big Snowbird Rd turns into FS 75.)

  • Trail Guide – Snowbird Creek Trail No. 64 & 64A

    Trail Guide – Snowbird Creek Trail No. 64 & 64A

    Trail Guide – Snowbird Creek Trail No. 64 & 64A (9.45 miles)

    From a location at the end of Forest Service Road 75, locally known as Junction, Big Snowbird Creek trail follows Big Snowbird Creek upstream eventually intersecting Mitchell Lick Trail above the source of Big Snowbird Creek. This trail features 3 waterfalls, Big Falls (upper and lower portions), Middle Falls, and Upper Falls. Few people hike the trail beyond Middle Falls and it is very rare to encounter anyone along the trail beyond Upper Falls. The first 4.1 miles of trail follows a level and easily walked former logging road ending at a footbridge. The middle one mile stretch of Big Snowbird Creek trail between the footbridge and Middle Falls crosses the creek 11 times. These sometimes difficult creek crossings can be avoided via an alternate route, sometimes called Middle Falls trail (64A) which climbs a nearby ridge and rejoins Snowbird Creek trail a few hundred yards upstream of Middle Falls.

    Snowbird Creek Trail – Lower Section (3.9 miles)
    From Junction to Trail 64A at footbridge
    Distance: 3.9 miles
    Minimum Elevation: 2732 feet
    Maximum Elevation: 3396 feet
    Total climb: 797 feet
    Total descent: 152 feet

    Snowbird Creek Trail – Middle Section (1.2 miles)
    From footbridge to Middle Falls.

    Snowbird Creek Trail – Left Bank Section
    Middle Falls to Junction with Snowbird connector to 64A
    Distance: .33 miles

    Snowbird Creek Trail – Meadow Creek Section
    From connector junction to Meadow Creek
    Distance: 1.1 miles

    Snowbird Creek Trail – Upper Section
    From Meadow Creek to Mitchell Lick
    Distance: 2.92 miles
    Min Altitude: 3,697 ft
    Max Altitude: 4,500 ft

    Snowbird Creek Alternate (64A)

    Snowbird Creek Alternate (64A) signed as Middle Falls trail provides a means to reach Middle Falls without having to ford Snowbird creek 11 times. The trail ascends steeply at first. Reach a first signed trail junction where a right turn will lead downhill on a connector trail to Snowbird Creek trail (Sign is labeled Snowbird for that direction). This will bypass Middle Falls and provide the shortest route upstream on Snowbird trail. Alternatively, you can continue straight ahead to Middle Falls. You will shortly reach a 2nd trail sign at a junction with Snowbird Trail (64). This is the end of trail 64A. Turn left and proceed 100 yards in the downstream direction to Middle Falls. A right turn on Snowbird Trail leads in the upstream direction where the trail crosses Big Snowbird Creek in about 50 yards. Just beyond the crossing is another trail sign for the junction with Burntrock Ridge trail. Continue straight ahead making way through several campsites, to a 2nd crossing of  Snowbird creek. It is 0.33 miles between Middle Falls and the 2nd creek crossing. After this crossing, proceed on the trail upstream toward Upper Falls, Meadow Creek, and Mitchell Lick. Alternatively, you can proceed downstream on a right bank trail (right bank when looking upstream) which will lead back to the first signed junction with trail 64A.

    This section shows how the Snowbird alternate trail (64A) connects to the Snowbird trail in 2 places. First via a “Connector” trail, second directly to Snowbird trail (64) about 100 yards upstream from Middle Falls.

     

    Areas: Snowbird Wilderness Study Area

     

    Connecting Trails:

    Sassafras Falls Trail

    Middle Falls Trail (64A)

    Burntrock Trail

    Connecting Trail between 64A and 64

    Mitchell Lick Trail

     

    Snowbird Area Trails:

    Kings Meadow Trail

     

     

     

    Link to Google Map Directions: Robbinsville, NC to Snowbird Trail Head

     

    Turn by Turn Directions:

    From Topton and Andrews, enter Robbinsville on Hwy 129.

    Turn right on North Main Street.

    After proceeding through downtown Robbinsville, bear to the right on tight curve, Junaluska Road.

    Junaluska Road shortly becomes Snowbird Road. Proceed on Snowbird Road for 4.7 miles

    Turn left to stay on Snowbird road for another 2.1 miles. (There is a sign for Snowbird Complex?)

    About 0.1 mile after passing intersection with Cornsilk Branch Road where there is another sign for Snowbird Complex, look for a 180 degree turn on Snowbird Road that descends immediately following the turn. (There is no sign and it is easy to miss. )

    Immediately after a crossing bridge, turn right on a small road (Big Snowbird Road) with one-lane bridge. Cross the one-lane bridge. You will also see a sign at this junction that shows “Little Snowbird” straight ahead and Big Snowbird to the right. The key is to look for the one lane bridge on right.

    Continue straight onto Big Snowbird Rd.

    This road eventually turns into one lane unpaved Forest Service Road 75 with occasional campsites alongside Snowbird Creek. The road dead ends at a turnabout where there is a campsite and trailhead sign.   –  4.09 mi (plus another 4 – 5 miles after Big Snowbird Rd turns into FS 75.)

  • Trail Guide – Burntrock Ridge Trail No. 65A

    Trail Guide – Burntrock Ridge Trail No. 65A

    Trail Guide – Burntrock Ridge Trail No. 65A (1.72 miles)

    From Sassafras Creek Trail near Sassafras Falls to Big Snowbird Trail (64), this trail starts at a campsite alongside Sassafras Creek located about a tenth of a mile above Sassafras falls.  Find trail junction sign at the campsite and turn right onto Burntrock Ridge trail and proceed on a moderately steep climb toward a gap. The trail does not continue over the gap, rather it turns to the left and continues a moderately steep ascent up the ridge. The trail reaches its highest point and continues level along the ridge. Eventually the trail descends a little while continuing along the ridge top toward the west. The trail bears to the right of the ridge and begins a descent where one is more likely to encounter short sections of overgrown trail. These include patches of briars. At no time is it hard to follow the trail. Trail descends further with water seeps and turns right at Little Flat Branch where it follows the right bank. Trail crosses Little Flat Branch and continues down left bank to the junction with Big Snowbird Trail No 64. at Big Snowbird Creek.

    Turn right on Big Snowbird Trail (downstream direction) immediately crossing Big Snowbird Creek, soon passing signed junction for Middle Falls and Snowbird Alternate trail (64A) and continuing straight a short distance to reach Middle Falls.

    Turn left on Big Snowbird Trail in the upstream direction, passing through several littered campsites and cross to the right bank to continuing upstream on Big Snowbird Trail to Upper Falls and eventually Mitchell Lick.

    Distance: 1.72 miles

    Ascent: 585 feet

    Descent: 470 feet

    Interior Trail

     

    Areas: Snowbird Wilderness Study Area

     

    Connecting Trails:

    Sassafras Falls Trail

    Big Snowbird Creek Trail

     

    Snowbird Area Trails:

    Kings Meadow Trail

     

    Difficulty: Moderate  (Trail is more easily hiked in the direction from Big Snowbird trail to Sassafras Falls trail.)

     

     

    Link to Google Map Directions: Robbinsville, NC to Snowbird Trail Head

     

    Turn by Turn Directions:

    From Topton and Andrews, enter Robbinsville on Hwy 129.

    Turn right on North Main Street.

    After proceeding through downtown Robbinsville, bear to the right on tight curve, Junaluska Road.

    Junaluska Road shortly becomes Snowbird Road. Proceed on Snowbird Road for 4.7 miles

    Turn left to stay on Snowbird road for another 2.1 miles. (There is a sign for Snowbird Complex?)

    About 0.1 mile after passing intersection with Cornsilk Branch Road where there is another sign for Snowbird Complex, look for a 180 degree turn on Snowbird Road that descends immediately following the turn. (There is no sign and it is easy to miss. )

    Immediately after a crossing bridge, turn right on a small road (Big Snowbird Road) with one-lane bridge. Cross the one-lane bridge. You will also see a sign at this junction that shows “Little Snowbird” straight ahead and Big Snowbird to the right. The key is to look for the one lane bridge on right.

    Continue straight onto Big Snowbird Rd.

    This road eventually turns into one lane unpaved Forest Service Road 75 with occasional campsites alongside Snowbird Creek. The road dead ends at a turnabout where there is a campsite and trailhead sign.   –  4.09 mi (plus another 4 – 5 miles after Big Snowbird Rd turns into FS 75.)

  • Trail Guide – King Meadows Trail No. 63

    Trail Guide – King Meadows Trail No. 63

    Trail Guide – King Meadows Trail No. 63 (7.6 miles)

    The trail can be summarized in 3 sections. The first section 1.25 miles is a steep climb from Snowbird Creek. The next section is a typical single track following ridges and skirting peaks to Deep Gap. The final section from Deep Gap to a house near Hooper Bald generally follows ridges along logging roads and deeply rutted roads.

    Detailed Trail Description:

    From near Snowbird Creek, trail ascends steeply (Strenuous) in first 1.25 miles with a climb from elevation gain of 1000 feet. Reliable water (not visible from trail) at nearby Owlcamp Branch about 200 – 300 yards to right of trail. Starting at approximately 2700 feet to 3700 feet at ridge. It reaches Fire Scald Ridge where it follows ridge with moderate walk. It skirts around west side of 4500 foot peak on a narrow trail and gradually descends into Deep Gap.  After skirting west around a 4680 foot peak, the trail climbs along Meadow Branch (on left of trail) for several hundred yards before reaching a gap with littered campsite and intersecting 4-wheel road.  Reliable water should be found along Meadow Branch.  At campsite, turn left and begin climbing to King Meadows along washed out 4-wheel tracks. Trail again skirts to the west of a 5160 foot peak as it crosses Queen Ridge. The trail reaches an opening with a house and proceeds uphill along the fenced boundary of this property. Follow signs at the gravel road back into the woods toward the left. After a short walk, reach a signed trail junction with Mitchell Lick Trail (154). King Meadows trail turns uphill to the right and becomes overgrown and a little difficult to follow for the next 300 yards. Soon Kings Meadow trail bears toward the left as it crosses a wet forested area with several small streams bridged with old split logs. Some areas of the the trail may be overgrown, but the trail is easy to follow. The trail begins a few switchbacks just before reaching its signed junction with Hooper Bald trail. Turning right will lead a half mile to open meadows and views on the bald at an elevation of 5430 feet. By traversing the bald, one can take in views of Highway 143 (Cherehola Skyway), Maryville, TN in the distance, and neighboring, Huckleberry Bald.

     

     

     

    Areas: Snowbird Wilderness Study Area, Cherehola Parkway

     

    Connecting Trails:

    Closed Road 2579 from FS 75 near Wilson Cabin to trail at Owlcamp Branch.

    Mitchell Lick Trail No. 154 from Trail No. 415 at Mitchell Lick to Snowbird Creek Trail 64 to junction with King Meadows Trail near Hooper Bald Trailhead.

    Hooper Bald Trailhead. (Leads 0.5 miles to Hooper Bald with views of Cherehola Skyway and Huckleberry Knob)

    Various washed out 4-wheel roads.

     

    Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

    Link to Google Map Directions: Robbinsville, NC to Snowbird Trail Head

     

    Turn by Turn Directions:

    From Topton and Andrews, enter Robbinsville on Hwy 129.

    Turn right on North Main Street.

    After proceeding through downtown Robbinsville, bear to the right on tight curve, Junaluska Road.

    Junaluska Road shortly becomes Snowbird Road. Proceed on Snowbird Road for 4.7 miles

    Turn left to stay on Snowbird road for another 2.1 miles. (There is a sign for Snowbird Complex?)

    About 0.1 mile after passing intersection with Cornsilk Branch Road where there is another sign for Snowbird Complex, look for a 180 degree turn on Snowbird Road that descends immediately following the turn. (There is no sign and it is easy to miss. )

    Immediately after a crossing bridge, turn right on a small road (Big Snowbird Road) with one-lane bridge. Cross the one-lane bridge. You will also see a sign at this junction that shows “Little Snowbird” straight ahead and Big Snowbird to the right. The key is to look for the one lane bridge on right.

    Continue straight onto Big Snowbird Rd.

    This road eventually turns into one lane unpaved Forest Service Road 75 with occasional campsites alongside Snowbird Creek. The road dead ends at a turnabout where there is a campsite and trailhead sign.   –  4.09 mi (plus another 4 – 5 miles after Big Snowbird Rd turns into FS 75.)

  • Old Road Gap Tusquitee Bald Area Loop

    Old Road Gap Tusquitee Bald Area Loop

    This loop hike includes unmaintained trails with sections that are difficult to navigate. Leg coverings such as gaiters or long pants are recommended for protection from heavy undergrowth in some sections. The area is remote and not frequently hiked, therefore precautions should be taken to avoid rattlesnakes. Headphones should not be used while hiking in this area, since rattlesnakes are nearly always heard before being seen.

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    View of ridge line that includes the section of Fires Rim Creek trail that I hiked. Tusquitee Bald is the peak seen between the fork of the tree. Weatherman Bald. (Photo taken from London Bald trail)

     

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    View from Fires Rim Creek trail on approach to Tusquitee Bald

    May 28, 2016 – From Tuni Gap Road – Big Choga Road intersection to trail side camp on Chunky Gal trail via Old Road Gap and Fires Rim Creek trails.

    Tuni Gap road was gated and closed. This may have been a temporary closure, because I later saw Caterpillar road equipment on the road along with a lot of evidence of recent road maintenance work. Old Road Gap road (FS 7099) is also gated and closed, but this appears to be a permanent closure.

    Just before dark at my campsite on Chunky Gal trail, I heard a loud racket at the bottom of the hill. After listening a while, I was sure it was a group of wild pigs rooting around. There was plenty of evidence of pig activity along Chunky Gal trail on the section between Tuni Gap Road and Tusquitee Road.

    That night while under my tarp, I was constantly brushing large black ants off my face and hair. With the headlamp I could see that the ants were swarming over my sweat soaked cap that sat on the ground next to my bag.  There must be something nutritious about perspiration. I left the cap undisturbed, thinking that it would draw the ants away from me.

    Other notable wildlife along the way was a Dark-Eyed Junco on Old Gap Road trail, a second sighting of turkey, and a grouse.

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    View from Tusquitee Bald.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    May 29, 2016 – From campsite on Chunky Gal trail to Tusquitee Road, then forest service road back to car.

    I didn’t encounter other hikers during the entire course of this 2 day hike including sections on Forest Service roads. In fact, the only people I saw were a few elderly gentlemen enjoying their Sunday morning coffee at a remote township along Tusquitee Gap Road (The only road open to traffic; I saw absolutely zero traffic on this road).

    I enjoyed a pleasant hike down these remote unpaved mountain roads after bushwhacking and gotten off-trail a couple of times along Chunky Gal trail.

    Having completed the last section of the Chunky Gal trail, I was able to celebrate (only in  my mind) the milestone of having completed its entire 21.6 mile length from the Appalachian trail to Fires Rim Creek trail. I first hiked the 5.1 mile section from the AT to Glade Gap on US Highway 64 in 2004 and the next section hike was in 2014 from Glade Gap to Little Clay Knob. There is very little maintenance on this trail. I ended up “off-trail” on each of 3 section hikes I completed.Each trip on this trail was made exhausting by the deadfall that had to be crossed or scrambled around.

    The Chunky Gal trail could be used as a “shortcut” on the AT by leaving the AT near Muskrat Creek Shelter and rejoining the AT 50 miles later just beyond the peak of Cheoah Bald. The shortcut would knock 12 miles (about a day’s hike) off the AT, but would involve plenty of trailblazing and deadfall scrambling hardship along with a few miles of walking Big Choga and Junaluska roads. Besides Chunky Gal, the connecting trails would include Fires Rim Creek trail, Old Road Gap trail / Old Road Gap road, London Bald trail, and the NC Bartram trail.

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    Tuni Gap Road at Big Choga Road. I parked off to the side of the closed gate. Looking very closely, you can see Old Road Gap road about 100 feet on the right.
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    This turkey on Old Road Gap road seemed confused. It ran around in circles back and forth across the road before finally disappearing off to the right. I wonder whether it had a brood of poults hidden to the left of the road.
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    This sign is at the top of Old Road Gap trail to warn hikers considering the hike from Fires Rim Creek trail down Old Road Gap trail.

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    Chunky Gal trail was very overgrown and hard to follow. I found this blaze on the ground and put it back on the tree. If considering a hike on Chunky Gal trail, be prepared with a GPS track. You will encounter a lot of uncleared downfall.

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    Clear Creek township on Tusquitee Road consists of 2 cabins and some vegetable gardens about 15 miles into the mountains down gravel road. Here is the only place I saw people over the course of 2 days.