Our Favorite Day Hikes Part IV - The Hangover

One of our favorite places for a day hike is to the Hangover (not the movie!) in the Slickrock Creek Wilderness in Graham County. This 6-mile out-and-back hike takes you to over 5,000 foot elevation as you cross the mountains of Graham County and offers 360-degree views of the beautiful Slickrock Creek-Citico Wilderness at the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.

 

The 300-foot cliffs of the Hangover as seen from below.

The Hangover is one of the most noticeable and striking geographical features in Graham County and can be seen from Robbinsville and the surrounding areas. It is so named because of the sheer 300-foot cliff at the end of the trail - the top of which can be reached for panoramic views of the forest below.

Looking east into the North Carolina mountains. The Great Smokies are in the far distance..

Miles of trails wind their way through the Slickrock Creek Wilderness, with access from the North Carolina and Tennessee sides. This means that there is any number of trailhead locations to start toward the Hangover. I have hiked from several of these, including the Big Fat Gap trailhead, but find that the Wolf Laurel trailhead in the Santeetlah Creek area gives an easier hike with less elevation change. Pick up a map at the Cheoah District Ranger Station just outside of Robbinsville. I also recommend the National Geograpic Trails Illustrated map of the area titled Fontana and Hiwassee Lakes.

Dogs will love this hike!

To reach the Wolf Laurel trailhead, you head west from Robbinsville on US Highway 143 toward the Cherohala Skyway. At the beginning of the Cherohala, take a right toward Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and then an immediate left onto Old Santeetlah Road (Forest Service Road 81). You will follow this gravel road down the hill and parallel Santeetlah Creek for about 8 miles. At the first fork, follow Forest Service Road 81-F to the right toward Wolf Laurel. Take this road up the mountain until it ends in a parking area.

A view from the clear cut - plenty of firewood here.

From the parking area, you will take the Stratton Bald Trail, number 54 to the left toward Bob Stratton Bald. This will intersect Trail No. 53, the Haoe Lead Trail, after about a mile. Turn right to follow the Haoe Lead for about a mile and a half up and over the 5,249-foot rise known as the Haoe. Side note, this oddly-named feature was named for a turn of the century local that could be heard going about the area shouting "Heeyyyy-ohhhh." I suppose he was also pretty excited to be in these beautiful mountains.

Wild boars are abundant - keep your distance! We were in a car when we saw this guy.

From the Haoe, stay on trail 56A for a half-mile or so to the Hangover. You will pass through an area that was clear cut in 2008 to allow a bucket helicopter to land while fighting wildfires in the area. The trail closes in with rocks and laurel bushes all around until you finally can pop your head over the brush in what feels like the top of the world. There happens to be a geocache around the hangover, so if you are adventurous, try to (carefully) find it.

Mountains for days!

There is a great stand of pines at the edge of the previously mentioned clearing with a couple of established fire-rings. I haven't done it yet, but I want to watch a sunset and sunrise from this awesome place. Be forewarned though, this high elevation ridge will see more wind than the valleys around it and the weather can sometimes be unpredictable. I have set off for here in mid-April with forecasted 50 degrees in the valley only to be turned around by sleet and fog. There will also be more rain here in the summertime, as weather systems hit this ridge as they sweep across the Tennessee valley. Always come prepared with proper clothing, even for a day hike.

Lunch at the Hangover - even Abby gets some treats.

I hope that you get out and enjoy the Hangover hike and the surrounding Slickrock Creek Wilderness. There are hundreds of miles of trails in this wilderness, so it's a place I visit often. See you out there!

My brother and Abby lounging at the top.