Outdoors
Highlands Greenway Trail The Highlands Plateau Greenway, with more than five miles of sidewalks and natural trails, offers a great way to get out and see the town. Most of the trail is recognized as a North Carolina Birding Trail. It also weaves through downtown Highlands and passes by many historical homes like Joe Webb cabins. This year a Kelsey Trail hike is also planned that will follow the historic route of the old trail from Whiteside Mountain to Highlands, with the permission of three country clubs that the historic trail traverses. The Kelsey Trail hike also will include lunch and serves as a fundraiser for the Greenway. In the fall, the Greenway club will lead a day hike along the trail, with three different groups starting in different locations that will be followed by lunch.
Sunset Rock
Sunset Rock offers a stunning view of Highlands from above. Access Sunset Rock Road from Horse Cove Road across from the Highlands Nature Center. The hike leads through a mixed oak forest to a high elevation granite dome community at the summit. A trail to the left leads to Sunrise Rock with a view of Horse Cove. Sunset Rock is a public park and an Important Birding Area of Highlands. Distance: 0.6 miles.
Botanical Garden Trails
The Highlands Botanical Garden at the Highlands Biological station is a great way to see native plant species. Take Lower Lake and Upper Lake Trails around Lindenwood Lake to connect with Rhododendron Trail or explore the trails at the garden. All trails range from 0.1-0.2 miles.
Rhododendron Trail
The Coker Rhododendron Trail is a part of the Highlands Botanical Garden at the Highlands Biological Station. The trail begins on Lower Lake Road and leads through a grove of old-growth hemlocks, hardwoods and rhododendron. Distance: 0.2 miles.
Big Bear Pen Trail
The Big Bear Pen Trail passes through Rhododendron Park with a panoramic view of the mountains of Highlands. It connects the second switchback of Big Bear Pen Road with Upper Lake Road and includes a 0.1-mile spur to a point below the switchback near a connector to Kelsey Trail. Distance: 0.3 miles.
Kelsey Trail
At the turn of the 20th century, the Kelsey Trail connected downtown Highlands to Whiteside Mountain through
five miles of oldgrowth primeval forest. Today, the trail winds through Eastern hemlock and oak-dominated forest. Access to the trail is at the end of North Fifth Street. Distance: 0.5 miles.
Mill Creek Trail
Walk the trail from the Recreation Park down to the Mill Creek Bridge, including a new loop trail, and enjoy a beautiful open view of the water. The trail continues across the creek and joins with Oak Lane, which leads through the charming neighborhood of Mirror Lake. Distance: 1.1 miles.
Bascom Trail
Enjoy the native flora, brook and waterfall on the sculpture trail from Oak Lane to the historic covered bridge at The Bascom. Distance: 0.1 miles.
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Best of Highlands 2013