This year is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina, and all year long, we’re highlighting local trails on our social media channels and here on the blog.
Here are a few trails that are perfect for mid-to-late winter hiking in February:
ROARING FORK FALLS OFF HWY 80 NORTH OF THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
- 50 minutes from our B&B off the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Between Mt. Mitchell State Park and Little Switzerland
- Easy out-and-back hike (1.4 miles roundtrip)
- Beautiful waterfall zig-zagging down through the forest
- Accessible year-round
More details: www.romanticasheville.com/roaring_fork_falls.htm
GREEN KNOB TRAIL AT BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 350.5
- 60-minute drive from our B&B
- Strenuous 3-mile hike from Black Mtn Campground…
- Or a moderate 0.5-mile hike from Parkway Milepost 350.5
- Great views + a cool fire tower (sorry, it’s closed)
- You can see Green Knob from our property
More details: www.hikewnc.info/trails/black-mountains-toe-river/green-knob
FONTA FLORA STATE TRAIL’S COPPER RIDGE SECTION IN OLD FORT
- 10-minute drive from our B&B
- Part of the Fonta Flora State Trail
- It’s a newer one – opened Oct. of 2021
- Moderate to strenuous 3-mile trail
- Multiuse: hiking and mountain biking
More about the Fonta Flora State Trail: fontaflorastatetrail.com/the-trail
HICKORY BRANCH TRAIL NEAR THE CURTIS CREEK CAMPGROUND
⭐️ ️25 minutes from our B&B, in Old Fort
⭐️ Part of Curtis Creek Recreation area
⭐️ Moderate to strenuous (some steep parts)
⭐️ Out-and-back, 3.2 miles total
⭐️ Beautiful in any season, with waterfalls!
More: www.hikewnc.info/trails/curtis-creek/hickory-branch
For our neck of the woods, 2023 is a year for new trails. Last month we shared that the Bernard Mountain forest service road, which just a quarter-mile from the Inn on Mill Creek B&B, is becoming a full-fledged, 4-mile hiking and mountain biking trail that will connect to the paved Point Lookout Trail greenway. It’s set to open this summer. We now have details about another new trail being constructed this spring, east of downtown Old Fort and also part of the 42-mile trail project in Pisgah National Forest managed by the G5 Trail Collective. Situated partly along Curtis Creek on the opposite side of the creek from the Old Fort Gateway Trail system, the Meadows Loop is going to be an ADA-accessible one-mile trail with bridges and boardwalks, perfect for nature walks, birdwatching and access to fishing. We’ll keep you posted on when this new trail in Old Fort opens!