... Hiking ...
Hot Springs, NC in Madison County is located directly on the Appalachian Trail
-so we do a lot of walking around here!
Treks are made in and around the mountains of the Pisgah National Forest. It is well known for its amazing diversity of plant life -our own tropical rain forest -thousands of species of herbs, flowers, and trees grow here, before we even get into mentioning the spectacular views! Walking it is truly the very best way to experience the lay of the land and take in its glorious beauty... and it's FREE!
Area Trail Descriptions
on or near the Appalachian Trail
*For Maps with directions, stop in at Blufff Mountain Outfitters ~right down town Hot Springs. You can ask for them by the names below>
Spring Creek Nature Trail (1.2 miles/1 hr) – This trail descends through heavily wooded forest following a small stream to the Spring Creek. The trail follows the cascading Spring Creek and branches back to the trail head following another small stream.
River Ridge Loop (1.3 miles/1 hr) -- This trail climbs gradually through a pine forest to a ridge line that runs parallel with the French Broad River offering scenic views of distant mountains and the river.
Lover’s Leap Loop (1.6 miles/1.5 hrs) – This trail follows the French Broad River and climbs to Lover’s Leap Ridge where there are panoramic views of the river and lands of and around the town of Hot Springs.
Van Cliff Loop Trail (2.6 miles/2 hrs) – This trail follows a small cascading creek up a face of a mountain to the ridge line. The trail follows the ridge line and then descends down the mountain following a small stream back to the trail head.
Shut-in Trail (2.0 miles/1.5 hrs (one way)) – This trail enters the woods at the headwaters of the East-Fork of the Shut-in Creek and continues to follow the creek with many cascading waterfalls and creek crossings on a downhill grade through heavily wooded forest.
Jack Branch Trail (2.4 miles/2 hrs (one way)) – This trail climbs a ridge line by the French Broad River through partially damaged forest from fires in the fall of 2001. The trail offers great views of the river, burnt forests, the town of Hot Springs, and distant mountains. The trail finishes by crossing a creek and entering a deep forest where several fields appear with scattered old growth hardwoods.
Paint Creek Trail (2.5miles/2hrs (one way)) – This trail follows the creek up a road that was washed out by a flood in the Spring of 2000 through deep forest leading to an abandoned picnic area where a 20 foot cascading waterfall slides into a large pool of water.
Round Top Ridge Trail (3.1 miles/2 hr (one way)) – This trail starts at the Appalachian Trail near Rich Mt. Fire Tower and descends through an oak-hickory hardwood forest ridge line to the town of Hot Springs. Great for wildlife viewing since the Appalachian Trail from Rich Mt. is the most traveled hiking route to Hot Springs.
Laurel River Trail (3.6 miles/2.0 hrs (one way)) – The trail follows the Laurel River through a gorge down an old logging road that was used to delivery logs to the mill near the abandoned logging, railroad town of Runion.
Pump Gap Loop (5.6 miles/4.5 hours) – This trail follows a creek covered with a canopy of hemlocks, tall poplars, and pines. The trail splits into two parts forming a lope that crosses the Appalachian Trail twice. The trail was named when a water pump was found here to provide water to the now Ghost Town of Runion.
Buckeye Ridge Trail (5.4 miles)
Betty Home Place Trail (2.4 miles)
