40 Hike Challenge Archives - Page 7 of 8

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.

40 Hike Challenge: #5 – The Shut-in Trail – Pisgah Inn to Mills River Valley Overlook

Distance: 4.5 mile one way (for Challenge Hike) 9.7 Miles for this hike

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change (for Challenge Hike): gain = 1116 ft; loss = 1956 ft

My Hike: 9.7 miles (Pisgah Inn to Bent Creek Gap)

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

Hike #5 of the 40 Hike Challenge begins at the north end of the Pisgah Inn parking lot and continues down a moderate trail for 4.5 miles to the Mills River Valley Overlook. On a typical day, this hike has wonderful views to the east.

40 Hike Challenge: #14 – Elkin and the E&A Rail-Trail – Downtown Elkin to US 21 at Collins Rd

Distance: 3.3 mile one way

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Change: gain = 404 ft; loss = 169 ft

My Hike: 3.3 miles (from Collins rd to Elkin “tree sign”)

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

This was actually the 3rd hike I completed on my 40 Hike Challenge for the MST. Our family had been staying in an area nearby and on the way back home, my wife dropped me off so I could explore this area. This was my first hike in the Piedmont section of the MST.

40 Hike Challenge: #7 – The Craggies – Glassmine Falls Overlook to Graybeard Overlook

Distance: 2.3 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult

Elevation Change: gain = 1046 ft; loss = 632 ft

My Hike: 4.7 miles (round trip) Out-and-Back

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

I have hiked most of the MST from Pisgah Inn to Mt Mitchell and this hike by far is one of my favorites. I hiked this one out-and-back, so it ended up being just short of 5.0 miles.

40 Hike Challenge: #6 – Rattlesnake Lodge – Craven Gap to Tanbark Ridge Tunnel

Distance: 4.4 mile one way

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: gain = 1596 ft; loss = 1433 ft

My Hike: 7.7 miles (round trip) out-and-back

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

This hike is a very popular day hike for the Asheville area. There are several access points for this trail, but for the 40 Hike Challenge, I used the Craven Gap trailhead. This is just off the BRP at MP 377.4.