NC Northern Mountains (4)

Property	Newland except as noted	828+except as noted
Buck Hill Campground	6401 South US 19E	765-7387
Elk River Campground	Elk River Rd, Elk Park	733-0455
Whispering Pines Campground	24 Whispering Pines, Newport	726-4902

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Property	Newland except as noted	828+except as noted

Newland area Recreation Facilities Directory

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Note: telephone area code is 828

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Appalachian Trail (Elk Park Trailhead)

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,158-mile foot trail following the Appalachian Mountains valleys and crests from central Maine to north Georgia. The portion in North Carolina loosely follows the crest of the Great Smoky Mountains, most of it within the borders of Cherokee National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah National Forest. Several well known mountain peaks are accessible from the trail including Gregory Bald, Thunderhead Mtn, Clingmans Dome (also accessible by auto), Mt Collins and Mt. Chapman.

This North Carolina segment of the Appalachian Trail is particularly rewarding. Passing over the Southern Balds you are rewarded with the sights and scents of mountqain-top meadows and, in their seasons, mountain laurel and rhododendron. The principal trailhead for this section is 2.5 miles north of Elk Park where the Trail crosses US-19-E. Authorities strongly urge hikers to make arrangements to be dropped off (and picked up when returning) at the trailhead due to recent criminal activity centered around parked cars.

Another trailhead, where theTrail crosses NC-261, can be reached from Bakersville (about 14 miles to the south of the trailhead). There is a designated parking area here.

The Trail is managed by volunteers under Appalachian Trail Conference auspices through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service. The Trail has become very popular among weekend hikers in North Carolina probably due to the ease of access. If you intend to embark on a serious hike on the Appalachian Trail, we recommend that you contact the Appalachian Trail Conference for more detailed information about the Trail, shelter locations, etc. Postal address: P.O.Box 807, Harpers Ferry WV 25425. Phone: 304-535-6331. Most book stores (virtually all bookstores in Western North Carolina) carry an abundant inventory of books and trail guides. If you just intend to take a day hike - which is certainly amply rewarding - you shouldn't need to arm yourself with a lot of written materials. The Trail is well marked (using white blazes) but there are many trails branching off the main trail. People can and do get lost as a result of leaving the main trail.

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Newland area Recreation Facilities Directory

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Spruce Pine area Facilities

Note: telephone area code is 828

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Privately owned/operated facilities:

Property	Spruce Pine except as noted	828+except as noted
Bear Den Camp Ground	Bear Den Mountain	765-2888
Springmaid Mountain	Henredon Rd	765-2353
Spruce Pine Campground	Dale Road; Box 354	765-7007

Spruce Pine area Recreation Facilities Directory

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Property	Spruce Pine except as noted	828+except as noted

Spruce Pine area Recreation Facilities Directory

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Roan Mountain - Bakersville

Otherwise known as the Rhododendron Garden, the bald is covered with a special, pink rhododendron rarely seen elsewhere. The blossoming peaks around the end of June and is well worth the visit even though an extended drive on mountain roads is required to get there.

There is an information booth at the parking lot which is attended during June and into July. The personnel there can entertain you with some very fascinating stories about Roan Mountain, the North Carolina balds and rhododendrons. Then take one of several, easily traversed, paved paths through the garden to a deck overlooking the valley. Oh yes, don't forget your camera. Admission FREE.

From Bakersville, take NC-261 north 13 miles to Carver's Gap (about 100 feet before the Tennessee state liue, turn left and you're at the parking lot. Postal address: Pisgah National Forest, P.O.Box 128, Burnsville NC 28714. Phone 828-682-6146.

Spruce Pine area Recreation Facilities Directory

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