The Weed Patch Mountain Trail is the newest trail in Hickory Nut Gorge! It opened in May of 2018 and is on property owned by the Town of Lake Lure. The
trail connects Buffalo Creek Park to Eagle Rock.
Buffalo Creek Park has expanded to more than 1,500 acres allowing for the new trail to be built.
The Weed Patch Mountain trail is 8.6 miles extending from the near the highest point on the Buffalo Creek Park blue loop up the Eagle Rock where you get
an incredible view of the surrounding mountains. The trail is a backcountry experience with no other connecting trails on it’s entire length. This
trail should only be used by experience hikers and bikers.
The trail is open to mountain biking though it is a narrow singletrack design without banked curves or any specific mountain bike features.
The main access point for the trail is the Buffalo Creek Park trailhead. You must hike 1.5 to 2 miles on the blue
loop at to reach the start of the Weed Patch Trail.
There is also a provision for limited parking at the western end of the trail which is on Chimney Rock State Park land. A few parking spots are available
there on a first come, first served basis. A reservation is no longer required.
For much more details about the trail and how it came to be see Conserving Carolina’s trail page at the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/weedpatch
The trail is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/hickory-nut-gorge-trail/
Located entirely on the property of South Mountain Christian Camp, these trails are open to the public year-round during daylight hours. A small trail
fee helps with trail maintenance, but there is no charge for ROC members. The three-mile loop trail can be accessed from multiple locations and is
mostly wooded with rolling hills and a brief stretch along the camp lake. It is the same course used for the annual South of the Mountains 5K Trail
Run. The mountain trail is just 3/10 of a mile but is strenuous. It includes an observation deck with a panoramic view of Rutherford County and the
Blue Ridge Mountains.
All camp guests are required to sign in upon arrival. A small fee is required for entry. ROC members may use the trails for free. There is also an 18-hole disc golf course on the property.
This is a series of interconnected natural surface trails built by local volunteers. The trails are mostly wooded and borders Lake Lure Classical Academy
and Lake Lure Green Space (formerly LL Golf Course). This is a great place to take the dog for a walk! There is also a picnic shelter available on site.
The Nature Preserve is mostly owned by Conserving Carolina. They partnered with Henderson County Parks and Recreation for a parking area and
connector trail. The perverse consists of an interconnecting series of trails with a beautiful mountain creek and several scenic overlooks. Look for the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trailhead, the same parking area for the Wildcat Rock trail.
For more details visit Conserving Carolina’s website at:
https://conservingcarolina.org/florence-nature-preserve/
The preserve is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/hickory-nut-gorge-trail/
Owned by the state, the primary purpose of NC Game Lands is wildlife conservation and management — hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed in Game
Lands. The trails in this unique area are maintained to encourage and facilitate foot travel but are open to mountain bikers.
The named public trails of the game lands are shown on our map. They offer a range of experiences including woodland hikes, riverside treks, and access
to the world famous Green River Narrows.
Trail users should be cautious during hunting season, which is generally from mid-September to mid-May. Deer hunting season, for example, begins in mid-
September and continues through mid-December. Seasons for other types of game run through mid-May. Hunters are most active on Fridays and Saturdays
and at the beginning of individual game seasons. The gamelands also offer public access to the Green River for paddling and tubing.
The ICC trail system was built entirely by ROC volunteers. Most of the system goes through a variety of wooded areas. Open field areas and sidewalk
sections join some of the loops. An interesting feature is passage through a bamboo grove with 3-5 inch wide and 50 foot tall canes. It is a great system
for a quick hike or run or exploring with the family. Parking is readily available and kiosks with trail guides at several trailheads.
The path is a 1/3-mile path and is paved and lighted. It is connected to the Purple Martin Greenway via a wide sidewalk.
The park also includes three Little League baseball fields, one tee ball field, one senior league baseball field, one multi-purpose field, four lighted tennis courts, two lighted basketball courts, horseshoe pits, 2 playgrounds (one for 2-5 year olds and another for 6-12 year olds), and a picnic shelter. Bathrooms and water fountains are also available at the park.
Trail now extended to five miles and connects to Bearwallow Mtn trail!! As of Dec. 2020 another two miles of trail is open here. Click on the printable
map to see the entire trail system in this area. The challenging but rewarding climb includes a 100-foot cliff and waterfall and views at Wildcat Rock.
Additional views of Lake Lure/Chimney Rock on the way to Bearwallow.
Conserving Carolina manages the trail and is to thank for its construction and association conservation easements. To see their details description of
the trail click on the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/wildcat-rock-trail/
For another description of the trail and the future plans, see the link below:
https://www.romanticasheville.com/little-bearwallow
The trail is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/hickory-nut-gorge-trail/
Thermal Belt Rail Trail – Grand Opening from Dustin’s Way Collective on Vimeo.
The full 13.5 miles of the trail is open!
The trail offers multiple parking areas and a variety of experiences on and near the trail. The northern section (Mile 0-5) is more rural and shaded. At
Mile 7 you are in downtown Spindale. At Mile 11 you are in downtown Forest City.
Click on the GPS the Trail link to explore an interactive Google map of the trail.
More information at the trail’s website www.thermalbeltrailtrail.com
Many thanks to the RHI Legacy Foundation for making this trail a reality with more than $5 million in funding!!
The Trombatore Trail climbs and descends over 2.4 miles along the Eastern Continental Divide, through the Upper Brush Creek Watershed. The trail terminates
in and expansive meadowed summit known as Blue Ridge Pastures. Plans are under way for this trail to eventually connect with the three others in the
vicinity (Bearwallow, Little Wildcat Rock, and Florence Nature Preserve) to form a lengthy network of hiking routes in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge.
For many more details about the trail and the future trail network plans see Conserving Carolina’s trail page below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/trombatore-trail/
The trail is part of the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System. That system is envisioned to be more than 100 miles of trails throughout
Hickory Nut Gorge. To read more about the plans and see a map of the current and proposed trails see the link below:
https://conservingcarolina.org/hickory-nut-gorge-trail/
