Walk into wonder
Regular departure time and place: The Lowe’s Assembly area in the Lowe’s parking lot at the curb-line closest to and parallel with US64. Please be there by 8:50 a.m. to allow time for sign-up, chitchat and whatnot. We leave promptly at 9:00 a.m. For DuPont hikes, check the description for a 2nd meet-up location and time for hikers coming from Henderson County.
A moderately paced hike, we expect to hike 3 – 6 miles without a huge amount of elevation gain.
Friday Rollers Group Leader: Richard Mayberry mayberryfinearts@gmail.com
FALL 2026 HIKING SCHEDULE
Walk into wonder…
August 28 ESTATOE AND ANDY COVE
4.5 miles, 213’ ascent, R2, no car fee
Out and back from Lowe’s parking, it is a “lollipop” hike to and behind the Forest Service building.
September 4 BUCK SPRINGS TO PISGAH INN
5.9 miles, 1,250 ascent, 65’ descent, R7, car fee: $4.00.
A shuttle: leave a car at the Pisgah Inn, we will begin our hike at the Buck Springs parking on HWY 276. There are 15 stream crossings and 8 switch-backs. Let’s plan to have lunch at the Pisgah Inn?
September 11 No hike scheduled.
September 18 No hike scheduled.
September 25 SOAPSTONE RIDGE
6.2 miles, 600’ climb, R6, $3.00
From the gauging tower off Yellow Gap Rd. we hike in on the South Mills River trail, take a right onto a “user trail” hike up Soapstone
October 2 No hike scheduled.
October 9 No hike Scheduled.
October 16 FLAT LAUREL CREEK – BIG SAM KNOB LOOP
4.2 miles, 770’ climb, R6, suggested car fee: $5.00
From Big Sam parking on road 816 we hike out Flat Laurel Creek to a right turn onto Big Sam Trail, hike to the summit for lunch and return, completing the loop.
October 23 DUPONT FOREST, WINTERGREEN FALLS LOOP
4.6 miles, 700’ ascent, R5, $2.00 car fee
From Guion Farm parking we hike Buck Forest Fd., left on Thomas Cemetery Rd., left on Tarkiln Branch Rd., right on Sandy Trail, straight to Wintergreen Falls, returning via Wintergreen
Falls trail and Tarkiln Branch Rd.
October 30 FISH HATCHERY TO MCCALL CEMETERY
7 miles, 830’ ascent R7, suggested car fee: $2.00
An out and back hike from the Fish Hatchery. We go up Cat Gap Loop, right on Butter Gap, right on Long Branch trail, right on Cemetery Loop a short distance to McCall Cemetery and return. There is a good lunch stop back on Cemetery Loop near Long Branch trail.
November 6 PANTHERTOWN, EXPLORING THE EASTERN SIDE
6 miles, 860’ ascent, 860’ descent, R7, car fee: $5.00
Mac’s Gap trail, right at Little Green trail, diversion to Tranquility Point, back, diversion to Schoolhouse Falls, back to Panthertown Valley Trail, right, back to cars.
November 13 DUPONT FOREST: HOOKER FALLS TO LAKE JULIA DAM
6.2 miles, 560’’ ascent, R5, $2.00
From Hooker Falls parking we hike up to the covered bridge, divert on side trails past the three lakes, stopping on the Lake Julia dam for lunch, then return on Conservation Road to High Falls, Triple Falls and parking.
November 20 CAT GAP LOOP AND JOHN ROCK
6 miles, 1,000’ climb, R7, $2.00
Hiking counterclockwise we will hike Cat Gap via the short cut to John Rock trail. We’ll stop for lunch with a view and continue on the John Rock loop to Cat Gap and back to the Fish Hatchery.
November 27 BENNETT GAP/PERRY COVE
5.0 miles, 1,500’ ascent, R7, car fee: $1.00
A loop from Avery Creek Rd. we take Bennett Gap up to a good view of Looking Glass Rock for lunch, then back to Perry Cove (left), then right back to Forest Rd. 5054 to Bennett Gap then left to cars.
BENNETT GAP/PERRY COVE VARIATION
4.3 miles, 1,150’ ascent, R6, suggested car fee: $1.00
Same hike as above but removes the extra hiking to the lunch spot/view.
December 4 BENT CREEK/ARBORETUM
4.5 miles, 200’ ascent, R4, suggested car fee: $5.00
A shuttle hike: From Rice Pinnacle parking we hike out Deer Lake Lodge trail, left onto Hard Times Connector, left on Road 480, left on 480A (Old Bent Creek Gap rd., enter the Arboretum, right on Creekside trail, right on Wesley Branch trail to Visitor Center for lunch, take Carolina Mtn. trail to car(s) parked at the Arboretum entrance.
December 11 BEARWALLOW MTN./WILDCAT ROCK 3
5.5 miles, 1,100’ ascent, R7+, suggested car fee: $5.00
An out and back from Bearwallow trail head continuing on Wildcat Rock trail to the turn to Little Bearwallow Mtn. and return.
December 18 DUPONT FOREST: BIG ROCK/BURNT MOUNTAIN, two
6 miles, 720’ ascent, R6, car fee: $3.00
From Corn Mills Shoals parking we hike up Cedar Rock, go left, do the loop, hike Burnt Mountain loop, then hike the Nooks loop, have lunch at the Little River, wade or soak feet, then return to cars on Corn Mills Shoals trail.
December 25 Christmas, no hike.
January 1, 2027 New Year’s Day, no hike.
January 8 BENT CREEK/ARBORETUM
4.5 miles, 200’ ascent, R4, suggested car fee: $5.00
A shuttle hike (We will leave a car at the entrance to the Arboretum): From Rice Pinnacle parking we hike out Deer Lake Lodge trail, left onto Hard Times Connector, left on Road 480, left on 480A (Old Bent Creek Gap rd., enter the Arboretum, right on Creekside trail, right on Wesley Branch trail to Visitor Center for lunch, take Carolina Mtn. trail to car(s) parked at the Arboretum entrance.
January 15 GORGES STATE PARK, RAINBOW FALLS, etc.
4.4 miles, 850’ ascent, R6, $3.50 car fee
From the trailhead go past Rainbow Falls to Turtle Falls and on to Thrift Falls and back detouring to lunch at Stair Step Falls. Maybe include a swim?
Pisgah Hikers 
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