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Yancey County North Carolina Hiking Trails
Buncombe
Horse Range Trail White Blaze Section
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Length: 18.0 miles
Rating: Strenuous
This white blazed trail is the longest in the Toecane District. It runs
close to the Middle Creek Natural Area and goes through beautiful virgin
hardwood stands. At higher elevations, the trail goes through spruce,
Fraser fir, and even some white birch. Begin off FR 472 and hike along an
old forest service road that has switchbacks. Watch for a sign that
indicates where the trail leaves the road and goes into the woods for a
short distance. Emerge onto an open field and hike straight across the
field.
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| Look for a white blaze across the field, which is where the trail
reenters the woods. Follow this trail to another sign that indicates the
direction towards the Camp Alice area. Go right here. If you go left you
will come out on road NC 128 which is the road that leads to Mt. Mitchell.
After going right, follow an old level railroad bed.
Be careful here as
the culverts have rusted, making it possible to break through if you step
on them. Hike around the flanks of Potato Knob, Clingman's Peak, Mount
Gibbes, and Cherry Mountain. Continue hiking and come to another old
Forest Service Road. Follow this road to the right and hike near some power lines
toward Camp Alice. The trail then goes past an old forest service gate and
intersects with the Mountains to the Sea trail. and the Mt. Mitchell
Trail. This is about 8.5 miles from the trailhead.
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Directions:
From Burnsville go east on US19E for about 4.3 miles to an access road
to NC 80. Turn right (south) go for .6 miles and turn right again on NC 80
(south). Follow this road for 8.2 miles into Hamrick. At the Amoco gas
station, take a right o Colbert Creek Road (NC 1158). If you enter the
Carolina Hemlock Recreation Area, you have gone too far on NC 80. Follow
Colbert Creek Road for about .9 mile. (this involves taking a right and
following Colbert Creek Rd after going over a bridge at about .6 mile) The
trailhead is marked with a carsonite post on the left.
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