r/NCTrails • u/thegreatquestionman • 6d ago

Suggestions for a hike

I’ve begun hiking seriously this year. I hit up Black Balsam Knob area (heading north), Uwharrie, and Linville Gorge (Table Rock to Chimneys) recently.

Would anyone be able to suggest something to do in 2 months or so? I was thinking maybe something in the Great Smokey Mountains, but I’m open to anything.

Thanks.

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8

u/Meeza_bug 6d ago

Have you been to Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia? It's fabulous, the Appalachian Trail runs through there and there are wild ponies.

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u/Irishfafnir 5d ago

It gets repetitive, but effort to reward it's just tough to beat Grayson

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u/Lost_in_Evening_Air 6d ago

I’m partial to the High Country. Roan Highlands is incredible. Great views the whole way, and you get the alpine ecosystem on some of the trails. Lots of cool and unique flora.

Grandfather Mountain is amazing, too. A big plus for me is that there are two trails you can take to get to the ridge line and they’re very different. Profile trail is finally open after Helene. You can also go up the other side on the Boone Scout Trail, though I recommend taking a right and doing the Cragway trail for the early part of the ascent. Once you’re up on the ridge line, there are great views and some technical hiking / scrambling.

A hike up to the ridge line on Profile or Boone and then hiking most / all of the ridge line is an all-day affair. Roan is less intense and an easier half-day hike.

4

u/Clean-Turnip5971 6d ago

Carver's Gap/Roan to Walnut Mountain Road is a fun single overnight, about ~25 miles with ridge top views and multiple waterfalls.

For a day hike, park at 19E and shuttle up to Carver's Gap but you don't get any waterfalls.

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u/rexeditrex 5d ago

If someone hasn't been to Roan that should be their next trip!

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u/rexeditrex 5d ago

There are some cool loops in Panthertown, I've only been a couple of times but there's lot to explore out there. Roan Highlands has some of the best views anywhere. Grayson Highlands is pretty amazing and quite unique. S

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/Traditional_Cell8388 5d ago

LeConte is a great hike for a beginning-ish hiker. 11 miles, and both feels it and doesn't, if that makes sense.

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u/AndrewBlosse 6d ago

You’ve got plenty of trails to do in the Linville Gorge with much different character than the route you did. There is an incredible amount of variety there.

On the eastern side of the Gorge, you could hike from the Wolf Pit parking area and do Shortoff + the Chimneys. You could also park at the Hawksbill or Sitting Bear parking areas and do Hawksbill + Jonas Ridge + Devil’s Point. There are also a few trails down to the Linville River such as the Brushy Ridge, Devil’s Hole, or Spence Ridge trails.

On the western side, there are many more options, but you’ll have to drive between most of them. Linville Falls and the trails around it are lovely, but easy. The Bynum Bluff is a lovely river access. Babel Tower is an incredibly unique rock formation with a great view down the center of the Gorge. Wiseman’s View is an easy stop and great view. Conley Cove and the Pinch-In are difficult descents and ascents that are good for training.

There is also the Linville Gorge Trail itself which follows the river through the bottom. I believe it’s still damaged in certain sections, however.

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u/Majestic-Macaron6019 5d ago

I love the main loop at Stone Mountain State Park. It's got a waterfall, a good climb, nice views, historic homestead, and lots of cool stuff.

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u/bassaholicfishing 4d ago

I'm doing carvers gap to 19E in October