South Mountains State Park - Member Hike

Hike Name: South Mountains State Park
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Nearby Town: Morganton
Rating: 4 stars
Directions: From I-40, turn south on NC 18, travel 11.1 miles and make a right turn onto SR 1913 (Sugarloaf Road). Take SR 1913 to Old NC 18 4.3 miles and turn left. Travel 2.7 miles and make a right turn onto SR 1901 (Ward's Gap Road). The park is 1.4 miles off SR 1901 on SR 1904 (South Mountains Park Avenue). Travel one mile from the beginning of South Mountain Park Avenue to the South Mountains State Park gate.
Total Hike Distance: 13.80 miles
Hike Difficulty: Difficult
Permit Required: No
Hike Type: Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends: Jacob Fork Parking Area
Trails Used: Hemlock Nature Trail, Chestnut knob Trail, Sawtooth Trail, Horseridge Trail, Possum Trail, Shinny Trail, Upper Falls Trail, High Shoals Falls Loop
Backcountry Campsites: Yes
Backcountry Water Sources: Streams, Rivers
Management: State Park Service
Contact Information: South Mountains State Park
3001 South Mountain Park Avenue, Connelly Springs, NC 28612
(828) 433-4772
(828) 433-4686
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/somo/main.php
Best Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Users: Hikers, Bikers, Dogs, Horses
Road Conditions: Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary: From parking lot take the Hemlock Nature Trail to Chestnut Knob Trail. This first .5 mile of Chestnut Knob is all incline and the most strenuous portion of that trail, so be ready. The Jacob Fork River Gorge Overlook is .5 mile into the trail. After that the trail evens out a little. The trail ends at the Chestnut Knob Overlook. Continue onto the Sawtooth trail towards Horseridge Trail, then take the Horseridge trail towards Possum Trail. Both Sawtooth and Horseridge are bridle trails so the path is wide and moderate. Possum Trail seems to be rarely used since the path was overgrown with grass and sometimes so overgrown it was hard to tell where the path was. But the greenery makes it beautiful. The trail descends until you run into Shinny Trail. Take Shinny Trail towards Upper Falls Trail. Shinny Trail crosses over Shinny Creek so you will rock hop at one point. This trail has a tropical rainforest feel due to the plants growing in the rich soil the creek leaves. It is very pretty, but is also very strenuous. You will ascend for 2.5 miles. Take the Upper Falls Trail Towards the High Shoals Falls Loop. Upper Falls is a multi-use trail so it is wide and moderate, a much needed break after Shinny Trail. Take the High Shoals Falls Loop towards High Shoals Falls. Shortly into this trail you will reach the falls from the top, crossing the Jacob Fork River, then going down many steep, tall steps until you reach the viewing platform where you get a lovely view of the 80 ft waterfall. Continue on the path taking another bridge over the rocky river and follow until you run back into Hemlock Nature Trail. Follow the nature trail back to the parking lot.

Hiker:

ihearthiking

500 points


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