Buncombe Horse Range Trail White Blaze Section

Length: 18.0 miles
Rating: Strenuous

The white blazed Buncombe Horse Range Trail White Blaze Section is the longest in the Toecane District and is available for both hiking and horseback riding. 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.

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.

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.