Sapphire, North Carolina

Pinnacle Trail begins by the Nature Center in Table Rock State Park. Keep left at the first three splits in the trail. You will make some creek crossings, gain elevation through the forest, and pass by Mills Creek Falls (25 ft). At Bald Rock Overlook, you can catch some nice views of Table Rock M...

This is a really nice, moderately difficult hike along a cascading creek, up switchbacks, and through wildflower fields. A couple miles in, you'll reach a helipad that is used for rescuing injured rock climbers - Looking Glass Rock is a popular destination for world class climbing. There is a sma...

Part of Table Rock State Park, Lake Oolenoy is a 67-acre lake providing private boat access for kayaks, canoes, or small boats with electric trolling motors.To get to the boat ramp, when traveling on scenic Highway 11, turn Sah Ka Na Ga View Road on the opposite side of the road as the Table Rock...

Looking Glass Rock located along the Blue Ridge Parkway (North) is one of the largest masses of granite in the Eastern US. It got it's name for the way the sunlight hits its rocky surface when wet, creating a shimmering, reflective, mirror-like effect. The views from this overlook are vast and cl...

This natural mountain waterfall and slide in the Pisgah National Forest is a local favorite to cool off in and have a little fun during the warmer months. You can walk up the line to the top of the falls and have a quick wait as others go down this 60 foot boulder. This water varies between 50-6...

The hike relatively quick and has minimal elevation gain, making it a great hike for the family or a quick stop off if you're planning to do another hike in the same day. This part of the Pisgah National Forest is filled with scenic hikes. Once you've parked your car, cross over the stream via a...

Starting at the trailhead you begin by following the yellow blazes. The trail isn't well marked so keep an eye out for the blazes you see. The trailhead starts at the dead end of Kelsey Mountain Trail. The path immediately starts to incline and doesn't stop. A few minutes in you will come to a fo...

Start at The Davidson River Campground just outside of Brevard, NC (276 Pisgah Ranger District). Have a shuttle car or a friend waiting at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout camp for the finish line. Hop on the 30.1 mile long Art Loeb Trail at the trailhead in the Davidson River Campground. Pull into th...

Pisgah National Forest, in my opinion, is one of the best national forests in the United States. Being just a short drive from Great Smokey Mountain National Park it has all the feel of being in the smokies with more to explore. Pisgah has anything you could want to see or do from tens of water...

You can drive this highway getting different views during the different seasons. Along the drive, have your camera ready for beautiful vistas, Looking Glass Falls, and many adventures along the highway. The views are especially beautiful in the autumn with the leaves changing colors. This route d...

For Caesar's Head State Park access, head North from Pickens on HWY 178 until it intersects with HWY 11. Turn right onto HWY 11 North and continue for 10 miles until the 276 intersection where you veer off to the left. Follow 276 to the top of the mountain. 1 miles past the Caesars Head Visitors ...

Location: From the intersection of US276 & SC11, head Northwest on US276.  Drive to the top of the mountain, 1 mile past the visitor's center, and The Raven Cliff Falls Parking Area and trail head will be on your right.  After parking in the Raven Cliff Falls Parking Area, the trailhead is l...

There are several ways to access the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, but go for the main trail head off of Hwy 276. The trail is split by the Pigeon River, providing a seemingly infinite combinations of trails and routes, keeping in mind that this area intersects often with the well known Art Lobe ...

We began this trip by camping overnight in Graveyard Fields. Those camp sites are .5 miles from the car, so we kept our food there over night. Bear activity has increased, so it's strongly advised to bring a bear canister and be wise about food storage. We woke up early the next morning made bre...

The trail to the Matthews Creek cable bridge crossing is easy. The cable crossing is fine - fun for some and a do-able challenge for others.  After the creek, to get to Moonshine Falls, turn RIGHT at the post which indicates a trail both left and right. This is the Naturaland Trail in Caesars Hea...

The Drive: Head North on SC Highway 11 "Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway" towards Table Rock State Park. Follow SC 11 past Table Rock approximately 8 miles where it will merge with SC 8 at Pumpkin Town. Follow SC 8 for another 3-4 miles until you see the intersection for SC Highway 276 on the le...