Blog - Page 13 of 14 - My Walk in the Woods

40 Hike Challenge: #4 – Graveyard Ridge and Skinny Dip Falls – Black Balsam Knob Road to Cherry Cove Overlook

Distance: 6.8 miles one-way

Difficulty: Strenuous

Elevation Change: gain = 1356 ft; loss = 2927 ft

My Hike: 6.8 Miles one-way (dropped car @ Cherry Cove Overlook)

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

I hiked this with my son, Noah and his friend. We tried to get out early on a Saturday morning, but a lot of other people had that same idea. The Black Balsam Knob hike provides outstanding views and very unique terrain.

40 Hike Challenge: #11 – The Blue Ridge Escarpment – Cascades Recreation Area to Benge Gap

Distance: 4.1 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: gain = 870 ft; loss = 1075 ft

My Hike: 4.1 miles one way (picked up at Cascades Rec Area)

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

I started this hike at the Park Vista Inn & Restaurant parking lot in the Benge Gap area, thus heading west instead of east. This was a very pleasant hike and the elevation change was not difficult. We had just experienced a lot of rain, so the plant growth was really starting to take off.

40 Hike Challenge: #10 – Cone Manor Carriage Trails – Shulls Mill Road to Flat Top Manor

Distance: 4.3 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: gain = 1002 ft; loss = 717 ft

Mike Hike: 4.3 miles one way (picked up at Flat Top Manor)

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

This hike is in the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park area. The first 0.5 mile of the hike is much different than the rest of the hike. The difficulty rating in the guide is “moderate”, but this is primarily for the first 0.5 mile of the trail.

40 Hike Challenge: #3 – The Balsams – Waterrock Knob to Fork Ridge Overlook

Distance: 2.5 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: gain = 656 ft; loss = 1202 ft

My Hike: 7.2 miles (round trip) Out-and-back plus trip to summit of Waterrock Knob

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

I solo hiked this trail early on a Friday morning in April. I arrived at the Waterrock Knob Overlook parking area about 9am and I was the only one in the parking lot. I basically had the trail to myself for several hours.

40 Hike Challenge: #2 – The Oconaluftee River Trail – Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the Blue Ridge Parkway

Distance: 0.7 mile one way

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: gain = 0 ft; loss = 7 ft

My Hike: 1.6 miles (round trip) Out-and-Back

source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The Oconaluftee trail is a short day hike (Hike #2 of the 40 Hike Challenge), only 0.6 miles one way. The trail follows the Oconaluftee river to the South terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway.