October 15, 2020
Park Creek & Park Ridge Trails Loop
Just a great hike today on a loop around Bee Tree Knob and Pine Mountain starting from the Backcountry Information Center. Cloudy to partly cloudy skies, temperatures 50-65 degrees, leaves falling almost constantly in the frequent breezes, and the sound of Park Creek and Nantahala River. The trail was a bit wet in places from the 8+ inches of rain earlier in the week, but passible. Some hidden rocks under the leaf cover to watch for, right Dick? While not a lot of wildflowers, there were Gentian's seemingly everywhere. This hike is fairly easy with mostly gentle slopes, but there are a fair number of narrow paths on the hillside above Park Creek aggravated by the wet leaf cover so caution is well advised. Ray says this is great hike for the Spring with lots of wildflowers.
The route
6.3 mi · 663 ft climbing · 4h 23m out, 3h 51m walking · 1.6 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
Photos (24)
Looking upstream on Park Creek Trail sign at Backcountry Information and Parking Area Another trail direction sign intersection of several trails Look downstream on Nantahala River Gentian in bloom Woodland elf (Vic) coming out of his home in a hollowed out tree Lots of Wood Aster in final seasonal blooms One of many small drainage streams leading in Park Creek and Nantaha River Late season Galax bloom heads Typical narrow trail on hillside Nice yellow bloom of something How to cross Park Creek . . . log or rocks in water? Mystery trident leafed ground cover A little help in crossing Park Creek on logs Park Creek Trail sign Park Creek is always nearby looks like a whale stuck in Park Creek! Leaf covered trail along Nantahala River Carolina Nature Common Ground-pine (Lycopodium obscurum) Another hiding place for a wood elf? View of Nantahala River looking upstream on final leg of hike Today's Hikers: Renee, Dick, Ray, Jenny, Vic & Mike Dick, Renee, Mike, Jenny, Ray & Vic Dick, Ray, Mike Renee, Jenny & Vic