Our Favorite Dayhikes Part II
Today's featured hike is one that I have been making since I was 5 or 6 years old when I was tagging along with my Dad and uncle up Snowbird Creek. Round trip, this hike covers an easy 10 miles and passes several waterfalls, ending up at my favorite - the Middle Falls.
To reach the Snowbird Creek trailhead from the town of Robbinsville, drive 1.4 miles north on US 129 and turn left on SR 1116 (Massey Branch Road) at the sign for the Ranger Station. Continue 3.3 miles on Massey Branch Road and turn right at the intersection onto SR 1127 (Snowbird Road). Follow Snowbird Road for 2.1 miles to a fork where Snowbird Road bears to the left down a hill. Continue on Snowbird Road for 2.1 miles to a very sharp left turn and drive 1 mile to a bridge over Snowbird Creek. Turn right directly after the bridge onto a dirt road. Follow this road 5.9 miles until it dead ends in a parking area.
This parking area is known to locals as the "Junction" because in the early days of the area, this was where the logging railroad intersected the main road and was home to a big log yard. The Snowbird Creek area was heavily logged by the Bemis Lumber Company from 1928 to 1942. My grandfather was one of the hundreds of men that spent their weeks at one of the many logging camps, only to catch the train back into town for the weekends. He told my dad and uncles of catching speckled trout by the hundreds to be fried up to feed the hungry loggers.
One of my favorite things to do on my hikes into the Snowbird area is to imagine the huge logging train filled with logs as it chugged its way down the creek. At many of the sites of the old logging camps, there is still evidence of the men who worked here. This evidence may be huge piles of tin cans from the mess halls or old railroad ties or rails. In some places you can still find lumps of coal left over from the stockpiles needed to fuel the trains. To me, hiking up Snowbird Creek is like taking a trip back in time.
Ok, back to the hike details...after parking at the junction, follow the Big Snowbird trail (Number 64) to the left. Some work is being done to one of the other trails that leaves from the Junction, but make sure you head to the left. Soon you will be following the gentle grade as it rises with the creek. Stay on trail number 64 as it crosses Sassafras Creek after about three miles, the first major creek crossing. After another mile, you will pass by another popular set of falls which you will be able to hear and see from the trail. These falls are formally named the Big Falls but are better known as the Lower Falls as they are the first in the set of three major falls on Snowbird Creek (next comes the Middle Falls, then the Upper Falls).
Passing the Lower Falls, you will soon cross a log footbridge into the Mouse Knob campsites. This was home to one of the major logging camps of the day and is named for Mouse Knob branch which splits the campsites. If you follow the creek, you will see where Big Snowbird Trail stays with the creek for the remainder of the trip. This is your best bet if you don't mind getting wet, as the trail crosses the creek nearly a dozen times in the next mile (an alternate, dryer route is offered at the bottom of this post). This is my personal choice during the summer as I love to fish the stretch from the Mouse Knob campsites to the Middle Falls. I will cover the excellent fishing on Snowbird Creek in a later post.
Following the trail for the wet mile as it crosses Big Snowbird Creek leads you to the Middle Falls. There is a sign that points down to the Falls and if you're paying attention, you will be able to hear them and maybe catch a glimpse through the woods. After dropping off the main trail and heading through some mountain laurel, you'll break through and be hit by the mist coming off the spectacular 20-foot drop. The pool is deep and clear and there are plenty of rocks and grassy spots for lunch or naps. Of course you could always cast a line for one of the native speckled trout that inhabit the creek. On a very hot day, this is the perfect place for a refreshing dip!
The Middle Falls in all it's glory!
Alternate route for those wanting to stay dry: After crossing the foot bridge at the Mouse Knob campsites, keep left and head up the trail that climbs the mountain (Trail 64-A). For the first 0.2 miles, this is a pretty steep climb with several switchbacks until it peaks out and rolls gently for another 0.8 miles. You will be away from the creek for most of this part of the trail, but don't worry, you'll be back soon. As you descend on the other side of this mountain, you will see signs that point toward the Middle Falls and Big Snowbird Trail (Trail 64). Turn left when you intersect with Big Snowbird Trail and the Middle Falls will be down a few hundred yards on the right.
I highly recommend stopping at the Ranger Station on the way into the Snowbird area and picking up a Snowbird Area Trail Map (around $7-$8), it will be well worth it. The Snowbird area is very popular with many marked hiking trails as well as lesser known hunting and fishing trails. I will be covering more Snowbird hikes in the coming weeks as this creek is one of my favorite places in the world.
As requested, a few more pictures:
Casting for a fat speckled trout at the Middle Falls
An average speck from Big Snowbird - look at the coloring.
Shot up the creek at one of the many crossings.
To reach the Snowbird Creek trailhead from the town of Robbinsville, drive 1.4 miles north on US 129 and turn left on SR 1116 (Massey Branch Road) at the sign for the Ranger Station. Continue 3.3 miles on Massey Branch Road and turn right at the intersection onto SR 1127 (Snowbird Road). Follow Snowbird Road for 2.1 miles to a fork where Snowbird Road bears to the left down a hill. Continue on Snowbird Road for 2.1 miles to a very sharp left turn and drive 1 mile to a bridge over Snowbird Creek. Turn right directly after the bridge onto a dirt road. Follow this road 5.9 miles until it dead ends in a parking area.
This parking area is known to locals as the "Junction" because in the early days of the area, this was where the logging railroad intersected the main road and was home to a big log yard. The Snowbird Creek area was heavily logged by the Bemis Lumber Company from 1928 to 1942. My grandfather was one of the hundreds of men that spent their weeks at one of the many logging camps, only to catch the train back into town for the weekends. He told my dad and uncles of catching speckled trout by the hundreds to be fried up to feed the hungry loggers.
One of my favorite things to do on my hikes into the Snowbird area is to imagine the huge logging train filled with logs as it chugged its way down the creek. At many of the sites of the old logging camps, there is still evidence of the men who worked here. This evidence may be huge piles of tin cans from the mess halls or old railroad ties or rails. In some places you can still find lumps of coal left over from the stockpiles needed to fuel the trains. To me, hiking up Snowbird Creek is like taking a trip back in time.
Ok, back to the hike details...after parking at the junction, follow the Big Snowbird trail (Number 64) to the left. Some work is being done to one of the other trails that leaves from the Junction, but make sure you head to the left. Soon you will be following the gentle grade as it rises with the creek. Stay on trail number 64 as it crosses Sassafras Creek after about three miles, the first major creek crossing. After another mile, you will pass by another popular set of falls which you will be able to hear and see from the trail. These falls are formally named the Big Falls but are better known as the Lower Falls as they are the first in the set of three major falls on Snowbird Creek (next comes the Middle Falls, then the Upper Falls).
Passing the Lower Falls, you will soon cross a log footbridge into the Mouse Knob campsites. This was home to one of the major logging camps of the day and is named for Mouse Knob branch which splits the campsites. If you follow the creek, you will see where Big Snowbird Trail stays with the creek for the remainder of the trip. This is your best bet if you don't mind getting wet, as the trail crosses the creek nearly a dozen times in the next mile (an alternate, dryer route is offered at the bottom of this post). This is my personal choice during the summer as I love to fish the stretch from the Mouse Knob campsites to the Middle Falls. I will cover the excellent fishing on Snowbird Creek in a later post.
Following the trail for the wet mile as it crosses Big Snowbird Creek leads you to the Middle Falls. There is a sign that points down to the Falls and if you're paying attention, you will be able to hear them and maybe catch a glimpse through the woods. After dropping off the main trail and heading through some mountain laurel, you'll break through and be hit by the mist coming off the spectacular 20-foot drop. The pool is deep and clear and there are plenty of rocks and grassy spots for lunch or naps. Of course you could always cast a line for one of the native speckled trout that inhabit the creek. On a very hot day, this is the perfect place for a refreshing dip!
The Middle Falls in all it's glory!Alternate route for those wanting to stay dry: After crossing the foot bridge at the Mouse Knob campsites, keep left and head up the trail that climbs the mountain (Trail 64-A). For the first 0.2 miles, this is a pretty steep climb with several switchbacks until it peaks out and rolls gently for another 0.8 miles. You will be away from the creek for most of this part of the trail, but don't worry, you'll be back soon. As you descend on the other side of this mountain, you will see signs that point toward the Middle Falls and Big Snowbird Trail (Trail 64). Turn left when you intersect with Big Snowbird Trail and the Middle Falls will be down a few hundred yards on the right.
I highly recommend stopping at the Ranger Station on the way into the Snowbird area and picking up a Snowbird Area Trail Map (around $7-$8), it will be well worth it. The Snowbird area is very popular with many marked hiking trails as well as lesser known hunting and fishing trails. I will be covering more Snowbird hikes in the coming weeks as this creek is one of my favorite places in the world.
As requested, a few more pictures:
Casting for a fat speckled trout at the Middle Falls
An average speck from Big Snowbird - look at the coloring.
Shot up the creek at one of the many crossings.
Wow, you make it sound like a wonderful way to spend the day! How about posting some more pictures?
ReplyDeleteis hike-in camping allowed anywhere along the big snowbird creek? i have a western nc fly fishing book that indicates camping is allowed, but i can't find anything on the forest websites that indicates that camping is allowed.
ReplyDeleteMegan, camping is allowed anywhere in the Big Snowbird wilderness area. There are many established sites, all right on the creek bank. Since the main trail parallels the creek for most of the way, you'll find plenty of places to pitch a tent.
ReplyDeleteLike I said in the description, a lot of the campsites used to be the sites for the big railroad camps, so there are usually more than one spot (with firepit, etc.) per camping area.
Hope this helps.
Ben
Ben,
ReplyDeleteIs there much hunting pressure in this area during the fall seasons? Is it consistant for all, deer, bear, and boar? I'd love to hike it this fall, unless I need to be concerned about bear and boar dogs. Thanks.
Tim Johnson
Morganton, NC
Oops, you can contact me at day_hiker at hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteTim
Tim,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the long delay in replying, I didn't see this comment until today. As far as the question of hunting and dogs, the Snowbird Creek area does not see a lot of hunting pressure when compared to other areas of Graham County but there are hunters around. If you hike Snowbird from the bottom up (that is, parking at the Junction), you will not see as many hunters as you would from the top down (access from the Cherohala Skyway). The main game in this area is bear and boar, there is no deer season in Graham County.
That being said, I have never had any trouble from hunting dogs or hunters for that matter. I have met plenty of each on the trail and the dogs will usually tag along for a bit hoping for a snack while the hunters will usually just say hi and keep on walking. If you stick to the established trails, you should be fine. If you're worried, wear an item of clothing in a bright neon orange or other unnatural color just to be safe. Also, you might want to avoid hiking on the first day of hunting season as that's when the most people will be in the woods...looks like the weekend of October 12th (http://www.ncwildlife.org/Regs/2009_10/2009_10_Seasons.pdf).
I hope you head out to Graham County this fall, it's one of my favorite times in one of my favorite places on earth. I love to hike and fish in the fall and I've never had a problem with hunters. See you on the trails!
Ben
Enjoyed your posts. I am interested in a January fly fishing trip for a day or two on Snowbird. Anyone interested in joining me?
ReplyDeleteBen-
ReplyDeleteI hope you're still posting to this site. Have you had any experience with hunters during the off-season here? I was there in August and came across hunting dogs. I'd love to bring my kids here, but concerned about their safety with poachers around. Thanks.