HALF-DAY SUNDAY HIKES
Hike Ratings
First Letter Second Letter
Distance Elevation Gain
AA: Over 12 miles AA: Over 2,000 ft.
A: 9-12 miles A: 1,500-2,000 ft.
B: 6-9 miles B: 1,000-1,500 ft.
C: Under 6 miles C: Under 1,000 ft.
Half-day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center (Exit 3B off I-240) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in hike listings.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-431 Jan. 1 Chestnut Cove to Sleepy Gap to Explorer Trail 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 20, Rated C-C Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253 (before 9 PM), paularww@bellsouth.net P400 *Note early start time. Work off all those extra holiday party calories on this moderate loop hike in Bent Creek on part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. *Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-346 Jan. 8 Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook on the MST 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 15, Rated C-C Barry and Heather Fletcher, 828-299-4776, hmflet@aol.com *Note early start time. This favorite moderate hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is rewarded with great views of the Haw Creek Valley. *Second meeting place: Folk Art Center off the Blue Ridge Parkway at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-434 Jan. 15 Laurel Mountain Trail 1:00 PM* Hike 4-5 miles, Drive 40, C-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 *Note early start time. This loop hike will start at FS 1206, go along a ridge trail toward Black Mountain and return via the Laurel Mountain Trail. There should be good views of the Mills River Valley. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-498 Jan. 22 High Windy 12:30 PM* Hike 6, Drive 40, 1700 ft. Ascent, Rated B-A Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com *Note early start time. A steep picturesque ascent through back country woods, with descent on the same trail. A rather strenuous hike but with the reward of lovely views from the top. If the weather is threatening, please call leaders. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 12:10 PM to form carpools, and meet leaders at parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at Exit 64 off I-40 at 12:30 PM..
HALF-DAY No. H0601-225 Jan. 30 Bent Creek loop #10: Ingles Field Gap via Boyd Branch and Little Hickory Top Trails 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 20, Rated C-C Charlie Ferguson, 828-278-0215, ccferguson111@charter.net Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net P400 *Note early start time. A loop hike up to Stradley Mountain following several of the trails in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. *Second meeting place, Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-499 Feb. 5 French Broad River Greenway 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-C Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net Asheville’s Greenway System now provides several opportunities for city walking. The leader, a member of the Greenway Commission, will describe plans for extending this riverfront trail and other existing and planned greenways within the City.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-316 Feb. 12 Carl Sandburg Park, Big Glassy Mountain 12:30 PM* Hike 4, Drive 50, Rated C-C Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com *Note early start time. Hike the trail that Carl Sandburg enjoyed, up Big Glassy Mountain and see the goats or visit the house museum while you’re there. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools; meet leader at the Carl Sandburg Home parking area at 1:00 PM.
HALF DAY No. H0601-256 Feb. 19 Moore Cove Figure 8 1:20 PM* Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-B Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com P400 *Note early start time. This double-loop trail follows two old USFS paths that are not on the map. There are a couple of short steep sections and two minor creek crossings. There is a good view of Looking Glass Rock and other sights visible only in the winter. *Meet at Westgate at 1:20 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station side parking lot on US 276 at 2:00 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-500 Feb. 26 Mountains-to-Sea Trail north from French Broad River 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 15, Rated C-C Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net *Note early start time. A pleasant winter hike through the woods, parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will have the opportunity to view some of the fine work that the CMC Trail Crews have recently completed in this area, including the 30-foot bridge constructed to accommodate the relocated trail. Short car shuttle. *Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-432 March 5 Montreat loop *12:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 40, 1,000 ft. Ascent, Rated C-B Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.org *Note early start time. We will start on the Graybeard Trail, which has been partly relocated to parallel the creek. Once on the toll road, it is down, down, down with some beautiful views. We will end up on the Montreat campus and may stop at the chapel for a look at the frescoes. There is one small steep section and four stream crossings on rocks. The leader reserves the right to change the hike to suit the weather.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-102 March 12 Coontree Loop 1:30 PM* Hike 3.7, Drive 35, Elevation gain 1200, Rated C-B Joe Burchfield, 828-398-8413, burchfield@niu.edu P400 This hike is a loop along both sides of a lovely creek, with views along Coontree Mountain ridge on top. Some steep areas. *Second meeting place, Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 2:10 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-325 Mar. 19 Tanyard Gap to Rich Mountain 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 64, 1365 ft. Ascent, Rated C-B Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us *Note early start time. After a gradual climb on the Appalachian Trail, we will be rewarded with an outstanding view of the Hot Springs area from the fire tower.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-501 March 26 Hickory Nut Gap to Ferguson Peak 1:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 30, Rated C-C Jane and Lew Blodgett, 828-274-7863 An in-and-out hike from US 74 in Fairview. A fairly steep climb is rewarded with excellent views to the west.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-171 Apr. 2 Cat Gap Loop 1:30 PM* Hike 5, Drive 40, 1100 ft. Ascent, Rated C-B Barbara Rathbone-Shoaf, 828-667-8684 or 336-769-1188, bpsss354@netzero.com or barbararathboneshoaf@gmail.com P400 This is a moderate loop hike on the Cat Gap Loop Trail. *Second meeting place, Fish Hatchery parking lot at 2:10 PM.