Joyce Kilmer Memorial Trail Joyce Kilmer Forest, the last remnant of virgin forest in the Southern Appalachians, offers a spectacular 2-mile loop trail. Near Robbinsville. Fall in with Fontana Village Resort Medium Hemphill Bald The Loop hike at Hemphill Bald is 13.7 miles in total, but just 4.7 miles in will get you to the Bald. The bald was named after a pioneer family. Tsali Recreation Area Located in Graham County the Tsali Recreation Area is known for its excellent trails. Hikers, bikers and horses all must share, but a bike/horse usage schedule keeps down the melee. Hikers may use any trail at any time. The Thompson Loop and Mouse Branch Loop are billed as easy to moderate and good for families. Looking Glass Rock This 6-mile hike through the Pisgah National Forest travels first through small cove, then steeply up the backside of Looking Glass Rock through many switchbacks, hardwood forests, Carolina hemlocks. At the top of the trail there are cliffs providing views of Pisgah Ridge from Mt. Pisgah toward the Shining Rock/Black Balsam Area and the valleys below. Hard Shining Rock Wilderness Area Shining Rock became one of the original components of the Wilderness System in September 1964. A series of high ridges extends east and west from the north-south oriented Shining Rock Ledge. There are three main access points for trails within this wilderness. First and foremost is the Black Balsam area near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although this is not part of the wilderness itself, the Art Loeb (moderate) and Ivestor Gap (easy) trails lead into the wilderness area from here. Mount Sterling Gap Trail This low ridge trail begins at Mt. Sterling Gap on Cataloochee-Big Creek Road. It’s only 2.8 miles to the firetower, but is rated extremely strenuous because of a 2,000-foot climb in 2.3 miles along an old jeep trail to the ridge just below the firetower. This firetower is one of three remaining in the Park. There are several excellent lookouts from the trail prior to reaching the main ridge, but the view from the tower is unequalled in the park. Fontana to Wesser This 30-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail is full of ups and downs. There are shelters along the way, and in the end you’ll find yourself at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Or do the hike in reverse and end at Fontana Dam. To learn more about the Appalachian Trail visit www.appalachiantrail.org. Some hike recommendations courtesy of Danny Bernstein, author of Hiking the Carolina Mountains. WNCTravel 2015 Your Smokey Mountain Destination 300 Woods Road Fontana Dam, NC 28733 855.974.5302 FontanaVillage.com < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < THE FOLK SCHOOL CHANGES YOU. Engaging hands and hearts since 1925. Come enjoy making crafts and good friends on 300 natural, scenic acres in western North Carolina. JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL folkschool.org BRASSTOWN 1-800-FOLK-SCH NORTH CAROLINA > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 43