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Yancey County North Carolina Hiking Trails
Black Mountain Crest Trail
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 Pets
must be restrained or on a leash at all times while in developed
recreation areas.
Pisgah
National Forest
Length: 12.0 miles
Rating: Strenuous
This trail is renowned as the most rugged trail of the east. There are
places where you have to use your hands to climb up certain steep
sections, although no ropes are required.
This trail is blazed orange, although the blazing get sparse near trail
intersections and near the middle of the trail. This trail is not
maintained, but is fairly easy to follow. It is renowned as the most
rugged trail of the east. There are places where you have to use your
hands to climb up certain steep sections, although no ropes are required.
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This trail is both the hardest and the most scenic in the area. The trail
follows the Bolens Creek and has many still pools that are notorious for
good fishing. Continue on this road and follow the trail that is blazed in
orange from the national forest boundary. Follow this trail as it
switchbacks up Grassy Knob Ridge and arrive at Celo Knob.
This is the
first of over a dozen 6000+ feet peaks that will be traversed. Follow the
trail and reach a sign indicating White Oak Creek Trail to the left near
Horse Rock. This is the old Woody Ridge Trail (#177) that is no longer in
use. Follow this trail along the ridge to Gibbs Mountain. Arrive at
Colbert Ridge Trail (#178) intersection. Continue south to the former site
of Deep Gap Trail shelter. Several campsites are in this area. Be sure to
follow the blazes carefully in this area. Continue to Potato Hill, Cattail
Peak, and Balsam Cone-all of which flank the Middle Creek Natural Area to
the east. Continue to Big Tom Peak and arrive at the Big Tom Gap Trail
(#191A) intersection. Continue to Mt. Craig. During this stretch you will
see advisory signs to stay on the trail to help preserve natural wildlife
and vegetation. From the peak of Mt Craig, you will see the Mt Mitchell
tower. Continue for a half mile to the Mt Mitchell parking lot. Note that
your high point will be 6684 ft if you continue to the top of Mt.
Mitchell. This trail is the most strenuous due to the constant traversing
of all the 6000 feet peaks that involve very steep ascents and descents.
Directions:
From Burnsville North Carolina travel east on 19E for half a mile and turn right on NC 197
(south) at the Texaco gas station. Follow this to NC 1109 (Bolens Creek
Rd) on the left. Follow this road to the hairpin turn to the right. In
this turn is a residential sign with the names "Hubata, Ashley,
Stewart" on it. This is the trailhead. If you have a high clearance
4WD vehicle, you can drive up this road a short ways. Park near the gate
on the road, but do not block the gate. For those with regular vehicles,
drive further on NC 1109 to a cemetery with a chain link fence. It is on
the right. This is private land, but if you get permission you can park
here.
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