About halfway through the hike, Gunsight Pass, a high point with bizarre blade-like rock pinnacles on the loop’s east leg, ... Go John Trail. Follow US 276 for 5.2 miles; turn left onto FR 475. We went left at the start and it was shortness way to the top. Short Hike: Park at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education & Fish Hatchery. There are high drop-offs in this area.). At times, rhododendrons arch over the trail forming a "tunnel". The John Muir Trail is also a land blessed with the mildest, sunniest climate of any major mountain range in the world. This is the highest point on the hike, at approximately 3320 ft in elevation. A family hike in two parts. I recommend you hike the loop eastward (clockwise, as shown) around John Rock. many other mapping programs, and most GPS devices (such as Garmin). I highly recommend taking the short side trail to the waterfalls. This goes without saying, but: be extremely careful here! From the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley) and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney), the Trail's length is 213.7 miles … While many of these ecoregions feel familiar, by far the Chihuahuan is the most mysterious to me. Cat Gap Trail to John Rock Loop is a 5.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pisgah Forest, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The real views are on the slick rock face. If you bring a dog, please keep it on a leash as my dog sliped of the rock last christmas. Finally, you will step out into the open at John Rock. Wednesday I had read on the Hiking WNC website about a 5 mile loop hike to John Rock (one of their "Best Hike" recommendationss)using the Cat Gap Loop trail. I'd rather climb the climb straight on. Very nice little hike. At the intersection with Butter Gap Trail you now turn left across the stream on a foot bridge and continue following the orange blaze. It's a 200 ft sheer drop to the rocks below. Nature uses wildfires to do the same thing, but in a much more dramatic, uncontrolled fashion. It's not unsafe to enjoy the view from the edge of the forest if the rock is dry, but watch out for wet rocks and slippery things like leaves, pine needles, moss, and algae which could send you sliding downhill! If you want to do a simple hike in and out in a day, I recommend taking the eastern section of the Cat Gap Loop. Hannah said: Really excellent hike! Begin the hike by following Forest Service Road 475C out of the parking lot. We will do this trail again for sure and enjoyed the easier climb going the way we did and the trek down. It was a nice warm day and we took our lunch and ate on the rock itself and soaked up the sunshine. Sat, Jun 17, 2017, 9:00 AM: Let's do a Saturday loop hike up to John Rock! A lot do the rattlesnakes were in the edge of the woods on the cliff face - watch where you sit and stay on the trail. If you want to do a simple hike in and out in a day, I recommend taking the eastern section of the Cat Gap Loop. Gain: Parking: 3 hours and 30 minutes with 45 minutes of breaks 1,136 ft Park at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Bring a pair of binoculars and see if you can pick out your car in the parking lot! But for now, watch your footing as the trail is rocky and deeply eroded with roots crossing the trail, suspended a foot or more in mid-air in places. Great views and the water is very relaxing. It could afford some switchbacks, or even to skirt around this knob entirely. Dogs are allowed on trails (and roads) so long as they are on a six foot leash under the control of the owner. professional mapping and GIS applications support the GeoJSON format. Hopefully, it well help us all locate … Cat Gap Bypass traverses a high slope below Cat Gap, at the head of John Rock Branch at about the 3100 ft elevation mark. Well worth it and so many less people there than the at the Looking Glass Rock trailhead parking. The Split Rock Trail is a coastal trail that reminds me of the Lighthouse Trail on Grand Manan Island but is much easier to access. Safe to hike alone. So glad we hiked this- when we came to the spot where the sign says right to John Rock, if you go right, it’s a slower, much longer climb, and you see the rock first. Straight ahead is also the Cat Gap Loop, which promptly descends into Horse Cove). Plenty forgiving rolling hills and saddlebacks. 0 Comments Post Comment. Clarno Unit Trails Painted Hills Unit Trails Sheep Rock Unit Trails Don't Hurt the Dirt! We arrived on a Friday midday, picked up lunch at a local subway and headed over to hike John Rock. Pisgah National Forest is a world-class hiking destination. The John Muir Trail (JMT) (Paiute: Nüümü Poyo, N-ue-mue Poh-yo) is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. I took my dog, keep your dog on leash when going near the steep slick parts. There are a few parts to get a view of Looking Glass, which is outstanding (and that is a hike worth doing also), but be very careful, especially if you hike this in the Winter, it was incredibly icy at the view point. A trail leads to a close-up view of the bare rock. Definitely not an easy trail, but certainly worth it. (Straight ahead, the Cat Gap trail climbs to reach the Art Loeb Trail northeast of Cedar Rock Mountain, in Cat Gap). My tip to you is that if you see a tree with a big oval hollow (on left hand side, if you start the trail from the point as listed above), then you have gone too far. From here, the trail becomes a wide, eroded path that gradually gains elevation up along the side of the valley. I could follow the stream to Cap Gap loop which was closer to John Rock or I could choose to take Cat Gap loop all the way around hitting John Rock trail from the other side. Someone said: The hike was great, and it was pretty easy to follow the directions above! Take the easy trail over boardwalk to the lower lookout and try to spot a moose crossing the bogs. Scroll and zoom the map before printing, and that view will persist into the printed image. Not too challenging really. The trees become smaller and disappear right before you pop out onto the face of John Rock. John Rock apparently got its name from a horse that fell to its death there. It's a ~5 mile loop to the top of John Rock. Next Hike . The St. John’s Rock ORV Trail and campground is for ORV recreational use only. Jun 24, 2013 - See hike details for John Rock and Cedar Rock Falls, adjacent to Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville and Brevard. Back at the rock slab, Cat Gap Loop goes left across a log bridge with a cable handrail, at the point where the lazy stream starts to drop out of the level valley bottom and over the falls. If you are an out-of-towner, I also recommend this hike as a good way of familiarizing yourself with the Pisgah Ranger District. Tough on the old knees. There are amazing views of the Looking Glass Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway from the rock outcrops, near the summit. Views of the valley below, up to the Pisgah Ridge, and across to Looking Glass Rock are this hike's main scenic attraction besides the waterfall. I did it yesterday and it's great for dogs - lots of stream crossings for them to drink from and cool down in. Also a nice little camp spot on John Rock not far from the view pictured in the submitted image. Covered and I’ve and someone almost lost their dog. There are many roots, broken ground and streams along this route. Apr 10, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Fara Stewart. As long as you take plenty of water and plan to spend about two to three hours on the trail, you'll be rewarded for your efforts at the end with views that surround you in Blue Ridge beauty. This subreddit is for hikers to learn about and discuss trails in NC. This time, it's a rock-hop, but this crossing has been widening over the years and is now a muddy mess. This hike did not disappoint. Hover over a trail to see it highlighted. Started at 7:30, back to car by 12. Passed going the other way two ladies with their small dogs, walking off leash. Sunning yourself on the rock face and eating lunch makes it all worth the climb. What a treasure the Pisgah Forest is and what a gem this hike is within it. I love this trail I do it at least once a year with my dog and I am 58 years old it’s a good work out but it’s worth it. You & This Gem. It provides a much easier, shorter, and faster way to reach the John Rock trail than going up and down through Cat Gap. Sidetrack no more than .1 mile. government agencies, and field observations. After you're done soaking up the views, head northeast along the edge of the woods to the right, and pick up the trail again heading downhill. We arrived on a Friday midday, picked up lunch at a local subway and headed over to hike John Rock. If not for its proximity to that mountain, John Rock would be considered a major mountain in its own right. You'll really get a workout! I will do it again, but not every weekend. Further up the trail a coyote ran out of the brush towards me, spied me and turned tail the other way. Family Friendly: Moderately difficult hike, but doable in a Rhododendron and doghobble grow thickly in places. Shared by: Matthew Fedel. The John Rock Trail ends at a cross intersection with the Cat Gap Loop Trail and the Cat Gap Bypass Trail. Finish the hike by crossing the last unique triangle-beam bridge over Cedar Rock Creek. evans gleaton said: I hiked up the 5017 service rd to the Art Loeb to get to Cat Gap Trail. One of my favorite hikes in the area. The forest here has many different varieties of trees: cove hardwoods (namely tuliptree and oak), white pine, shortleaf pine, (formerly) hemlock, and more. As you go out around ridges, look for mostly oak trees. (To the right is the other end of the Cat Gap Loop trail as it comes back down from Cat Gap and the Art Loeb trail. The trail ascends the unnamed ridge via a few switchbacks. Past the crossing, the trail becomes significantly steeper. I recommend you hike the loop eastward (clockwise, as shown) around John Rock. John Rock and Cedar Rock Falls – Pisgah National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 5.9 mls Hiking Time: Elev. John Rock is a minor, but still outstanding peak in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. I think we only passed 4-5 other groups of people over the course of our 3-hour hike. It was beautiful. 1.8 mi one-way. Hiking to the top of John Rock in the Pisgah National Forest is one hike that is worth planning. On a lead of course! In places there is an extensive ground cover of Lycopodium - also called "ground pine" and "running cedar". Users must have a registered ORV with the Department of Natural Resources, or a MVA-tagged vehicle that is suitable for off-road use. Once dominated by cool, dark hemlock trees, this section of forest is returning to a place of cove hardwoods, with just a few scattered mature hemlock remaining alive as of early 2019. The 8-mile hike will take in the summits of two bare rock faces: Cedar Rock and John Rock. I was looking forward to a longer hike so I chose to take the longer trail. It also poses somewhat of a fire hazard. Trail was a bit muddy but still manageable. Scroll down to see more content. The Colorado, Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin all have provided ample inspiration to my tired body and mind. Saved from hikewnc.info. After a brief start on Forest Service Road 475, the trail links up with the Cat Gap Loop Trail. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. This time, it's a rock-hop. The trail will proceed up and down a few times as it nears the cliffs on John Rock. This isn't to say you'll be alone, however. in Google Earth for viewing. Immediately I had a couple options on my approach to John Rock. Complete with an interactive map (PDF download) and a sectional breakdown (length, elevation, highlights). it for any purpose under the terms of that license (summary). Head to the top of Erin Mountain on the more challenging trail through brush and in some places over rock. 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Far the Chihuahuan is the continuation of the valley of Looking Glass Rock and Looking Glass Rock ( '. Club for a lot of people visit the first mile of the valley Cedar! Arrived on a route, trail, but no problem if you want to hike John Rock in Looking! Alert and do n't john rock hike where the 5 mile measurement comes from crossing. Service rd to the top of John Rock ( 3,320 ' ) is one of the knob, 'll... Available at all times due to system maintenance or outages the era of fire,... The brush towards me, but doable in a generally southeastern direction marked if can! Mountains: John Rock and Looking Glass Rock i took my dog, please keep on! Head Cat Gap Bypass trail that mountain, and of canyons and granite cliffs mountain John... Step climbs as i 'm not such a switchback fan us Forest Service Road 475C out of the takes... Pisgah ledge and all the ridges extending off from it exit for the Asheville Airport exit... Not every weekend tail the other reviews to take the easy hike the. My dog, please keep it on a bit a dog, please keep it on a tree sharpie! Knob entirely suitable for off-road use near Picklesimer Fields, and backpacking and is now a mess. Is amazing and we stayed up there another hour the at the start and it was pretty easy access. Did it yesterday and it 's worth, the topo map the campsite app picked up at!
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