July 4, 2023
Raper Mountain Loop
A warm and muggy Independence Day hike on a mixed trail of FS roads, old logging roads, forest trail and ATV trail. The trail is initially a continuous, but generally easy uphill hike, then downhill to the trailhead. There is very limited parking from where we started. Raper Creek Falls, near the start of the hike, is a very nice, 25-foot, two-tiered falls requiring some careful footing down a mostly steep and slippery embankment. It's worth the scramble. The native Rhododendrons were in bloom and much of the trail was lined with Japanese Spirea. This is not a spectacular hike, but worth checking out. Watch out for the ticks this time of year.
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The route
5.8 mi · 774 ft climbing · 3h 15m out, 2h 47m walking · 2.1 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%
17 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (17)
Raper Creek Falls from half-way down the embankment. Independence Day Hikers (L-R): John, Charles, Beth, Mike, Traildog-Toby, Matt, Jenny, Heather, Jack & Shelia Headed up FS Road 376 to Raper Creek Falls. It is a bit of a scramble down to the base of the falls. A first look at Raper Creek Falls with a Carolina Rhododendron (?) in the foreground. You can get up close with the lower section of this falls. Just watch out for slippery rocks. Looking downstream from Raper Creek Falls. Lots of this Japanese Spirea along much of the trail. Not sure . . . looks like a Hydrangea of some type. Mountain sweet pepperbush (aka Summersweet) (Clethra acuminata ) UL: Greater Tickseed Coreopsis; UR; Blackeyed Susan; LR: Smooth False Foxglove ; LL: Saint Andrews Cross Lots of mushrooms today, all types of colors, shapes and sizes. Taking a break, but it looks like Toby is anxious to keep moving. On the other hand, perhaps Toby wants to take a break, too. Time to cool off. Don't you love the way simple things make a pooch happy? We're not alone today. On the left, bear scat from feeding on the numerous Blackberry bushes and right, Heather thinks this might be Bobcat scat. Headed back. Left: FS road; Right: ATV trail.