r/NCTrails

Doing some day hiking here soon in the area. Ive got the NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps for the whole area, but looking to acquire maybe Kornegay's panthertown and any others more local. I see online ordering for it, but also just love to peruse maps in person.

And recommended bookstores, outposts, or gear shops?

I am moving to Rocky Mount for the summer for an internship, and I am looking for suggestions on backpacking trails in the area. I will have 3-day weekends, and I will have a car so I can drive to get to places. The further I drive, the shorter my backpacking trips have to be. I am from Utah and spend most of my weekends backpacking and through hiking southern Utah for 3 or 4 days at a time, and I am hoping to do that in NC.

If I could get suggestions for backpacking routes, that would be very much appreciated! Even if they are not in the Eastern part of the state or not in NC at all, I would love to know some good areas

Evening update posted below

https://www.facebook.com/share/1B3KfU7YPY/

"OLD HIGHWAY 105 FIRE UPDATE

USDA Forest Service firefighters along with multiple fire departments and emergency management organizations responded to a fire burning in Pisgah National Forest on the Grandfather Ranger District today. The Old Highway 105 Fire is burning on both sides of NC Highway 105, just south of Forest Service Road 106, inside and near the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, on the border of Burke and McDowell Counties. The fire is currently 12 acres and 60% contained.

The fire was reported early this morning and firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, Burke and McDowell Emergency Management, and local fire departments immediately began suppression activities and building firelines around the perimeter. The fire is burning in an area with steep terrain that was heavily affected by Hurricane Helene. Downed trees and dry conditions are contributing to increased wildfire intensity and risk. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Firelines were completed around the perimeter this afternoon and firefighters are working to hold those lines. Water tankers, fire trucks with large water tanks holding up to 2500 gallons, are distributing water along the firelines to support containment and suppression.

No trail closures are in place at this time. The Linville Gorge Wilderness area remains open.

Travel along Old NC Highway 105 may be limited over the next couple days. Please avoid the area for public and firefighter safety. If you need to drive in the area, drive slowly with headlights on and watch for firefighters and equipment working along roadways. Smoke may be visible from nearby communities and roads until significant there is significant rain.

For information about air quality, visit AirNow.gov or download the mobile app.

N.C. Forest Service Burke County Emergency Services & Emergency Management Office McDowell County 911 / Emergency Management"

I know this is a tall ask and there’s not likely to be many sites that fit the bill. But here’s why I ask:

I want to eventually take my dog on backpacking trips. Day hikes are her favorite activity in the world. But she’s never been camping before, so I want to test out one night camping with her. I want to either camp next to the car, or within a mile so if it goes poorly, we can just leave right away.

She gets anxious around other people and dogs, so I want to prioritize somewhere that will be quiet and secluded.

I was thinking maybe somewhere in N Mills area, but I wouldn’t know where to find good secluded spots. Also I have seen several great options along NC105 in Linville gorge that look relatively spread out, but idk how busy and noisy those would get at night being a popular area.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Hey All,

I did Roan Highlands last month and loved it, but it's a bit too busy for a couple days of camping. Are there any alternatives, preferably even higher, within a couple hours of Asheville? Grayson Highlands might be an option, but I'm thinking it might suffer from similar.

Hi everyone! So my friend and I our road tripping and will be hiking grandfather mountain the last day of June. We’ve done a lot of long and some “dangerous” hikes like angels landing. We want to do the grandfather trail as I’ve read that’s where all the crazy ladders and rope sections are.

But we also want to start from the Daniel Boone scout trail in blue ridge.

I keep seeing in videos and reading about people hiking Daniel Boone scout trail to Calloway and McRae peak ( which grandfather trail also leads too) but can’t seem to figure out if that trail connects with the grandfather trail at some point or if grandfather trail is its own thing.

We want to start at daniel but don’t want to miss out on all the scary fun climbing lol.

Boulder has Mount Sanitas, Aspen has the Ute, Colorado Springs has the incline...

Does the Asheville area have an equivalent, a sub-hour tough one really close to town that local runners compare finishing times over?

Hi there. Asst. Scoutmaster with a Troop based near Charlotte, NC. We are supposed to backpack in the Panthertown area this weekend, however, weather is not looking all that great with rain both Saturday and Sunday. Our Scoutmaster has tasked us with finding alternatives.

The rain situation looks better closer to the coast, but I can't seem to find any backpacking trails that have 4-6 miles of total hiking (whether in a loop or out and back) with an overnight camp.

Any ideas?

I'm not really intimidated by black bear encounters , and have been around them enough to know they are for the most part, giant racoons. That said, I saw a us forest service notice from 2018 recommending bear spray and the obvious canister while in panthertown. Are the bears in panthertown pushy enough to warrant carrying a can? Curious to hear folks thoughts on this. I don't care to carry stuff that's not needed, but if it's a case of overly tame or aggressive bears not retreating from the normal loud noise and visual cues , I would understand the need. Please advise if you backpack there much.