Its enormous, towering granite walls, while very impressive, are overshadowed by the spectacular cliffs of the nearby Looking Glass Rock. Many After you're done soaking up the views, head northeast along the edge of the woods to the right, and pick up the trail again heading downhill. From Asheville, take I-240 west to I-26 east to the exit for the Asheville Airport (exit 40). You'll come to a four-way intersection in a deep gap to the south of John Rock. The trail is only a 20 minute drive from Uptown Saint John. Not only do our delicate fossil soils look best when they are footprint free, but fragile fossils may be hidden just below the surface. KML is the main file type used by Google Earth. You'll really get a workout! Use the Cat Gap Loop trail to access the John Rock trail. In places there is an extensive ground cover of Lycopodium - also called "ground pine" and "running cedar". Jul 1, 2016 - Cedar Rock Creek Falls as seen from the approach side.. . Covered and I’ve and someone almost lost their dog. Your email address will not be displayed, is kept completely private, and is only used to fight comment spam. John Rock and Cedar Rock Falls – Pisgah National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 5.9 mls Hiking Time: Elev. In years past, we've often found ourselves meandering through the deserts of the Western United States. Helen said: I don't know where the 5 mile measurement comes from. About half way up the trail it does start to climb so if you are not in that good of shape taking a few breaks is a good idea. It lies just outside of a forest demonstration area delineated by a green chain-link fence on your right. The rating was moderate and the trail was easy except for a section of switchbacks to reach the elevation of John Rock. GPX is compatible with Google Earth, But I sat there for a while. Turn left here onto the John Rock trail. You'll pass through varied forest environments in rapid succession. No mud but lots of ice. The 8-mile hike will take in the summits of two bare rock faces: Cedar Rock and John Rock. Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet (40 m) high, 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and 850 feet (260 m) wide, which is in southwestern Natrona County, Wyoming along Wyoming Highway 220.During the middle of the 19th century, it formed a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails. I was looking forward to a longer hike so I chose to take the longer trail. If you want to do a simple hike in and out in a day, I recommend taking the eastern section of the Cat Gap Loop. Safe to hike alone. Madbomr Hobo Marker said: If you're looking for killer views, then John Rock is the hike to take. If not for its proximity to that mountain, John Rock would be considered a major mountain in its own right. Ground pines are some of the oldest varieties of plants in existence, and they used to dominate the landscape with tree-sized forms. This is a popular day-hike for a lot of people. Do I need a permit? The John Rock Trail ends at a cross intersection with the Cat Gap Loop Trail and the Cat Gap Bypass Trail. We will do this trail again for sure and enjoyed the easier climb going the way we did and the trek down. Trail a little muddy in spots but overall in good shape. Plenty forgiving rolling hills and saddlebacks. At times, rhododendrons arch over the trail forming a "tunnel". Finally, you will step out into the open at John Rock. Thanks to whoever marked out John Rock on a tree with sharpie. Family Friendly: Moderately difficult hike, but doable in a day. My app picked up 8.11 miles with a slight sidetrack onto Butter Gap. Join the Carolina Mountain Club for a hike in the Looking Glass Rock area of the Pisgah National Forest on Sunday, Jan. 19. Great hike! Now diminutive, this cute little plant looks like a 6 inch high forest of its own! Open Database License - you are free to copy and use When you dip into the small coves you'll find tuliptree and (formerly) hemlocks. I saw the beginning of the trail at the end of my hike. Previous Hike: JOHN ROCK. You can pan and zoom the map as desired before printing One portion is a steep climb up a jumbled rock pile. You'll come to a footbridge over Cedar Rock Creek; cross it, cross the gravel road just after it, and pick up the Cat Gap trail again on the other side. If it is raining, proceed with EXTREME CAUTION. Complete with an interactive map (PDF download) and a sectional breakdown (length, elevation, highlights). I'm not sure how someone got over 8 miles above, it must have been a longer route. When leaving John Rock, we walked down the rock and to the right along the tree line... that's where a spur of the trail picked up again. Jun 24, 2013 - See hike details for John Rock and Cedar Rock Falls, adjacent to Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville and Brevard. Kristen said: Could anyone tell me an average time it takes to complete this 5 mile trail. many other mapping programs, and most GPS devices (such as Garmin). Next Hike . The rock face is located near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, 1401 Fish Hatchery Road, Pisgah Forest. I love this trail I do it at least once a year with my dog and I am 58 years old it’s a good work out but it’s worth it. Ice on rock at top a little risky, pretty muddy but the views are gorgeous!! It's to the left as you face the main building. It provides a much easier, shorter, and faster way to reach the John Rock trail than going up and down through Cat Gap. You will pass the weir where the water is diverted into the fish hatchery, far down below you on the left. The John Rock trail is easy to access - park at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and the State Fish Hatchery near Brevard. Trail was 6miles not 4.9 but definitely worth the extra mile. We drove to the Pisgah National Forest to hike up to John Rock. Tip: Printing this map? Description. INCREDIBLE SURPRISE VIEW! I will go again and see the rest of the trail. On the back end of the trail you can head into the less touristy back country for some more scenic wildlife views and less traffic. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/john-rock-trail It had been a couple of days since it rained and it is true that they trail was very muddy in parts. Thank you! From this cove, the trail begins winding back uphill again slightly, over into the next cove, where it starts to descend in earnest. The trees become smaller and disappear right before you pop out onto the face of John Rock. Great winter 360 views. Modest climb, mountain streams, and a killer view at the top. The forest here has many different varieties of trees: cove hardwoods (namely tuliptree and oak), white pine, shortleaf pine, (formerly) hemlock, and more. This is the continuation of the loop, and it heads in a generally southeastern direction. The eastern trailhead is at the far east end of the parking lot (farthest from buildings). When you come upon a 4 way intersection, you'll take a left on to John Rock Trail to get to the top. John Rock Pisgah National Forest Hike. If you want to do a simple hike in and out in a day, I recommend taking the eastern section of the Cat Gap Loop. But continue straight ahead to reach the overlook. John Rock Hike. The GPX format stands for GPS Exchange - a free, open, XML format for exchanging GPS and map data. Apr 10, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Fara Stewart. Overview Cedar Rock Mountain rises in the vicinity of two more famous local mountains: John Rock and Looking Glass Rock. The round-trip hike to John Rock, which is located in Pisgah National Forest behind the education center, encompasses approximately 5 miles of trail that includes wild flowers, meadows, granite domes, creeks and waterfalls. A short drive from Brevard, the John Rock Trail Running Tour visits a slick rock overlook with incredible views of the Davidson River and nearby peaks. Turn left here onto the Cat Gap Bypass. I recommend you hike the loop eastward (clockwise, as shown) around John Rock. What a beautiful hike!!! The trail crosses the creek again on another log bridge and comes out in a planted stand of white pines where there is almost no undergrowth. This isn't to say you'll be alone, however. Went backwards or counterclockwise for a less steep approach. It angles to the left (east) up the mountainside and works its way up onto the nose of a ridge on a very eroded section of path. The view is fantastic. Then it drops downhill slightly into a cove filled with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron and mountain laurel. It took us about 3 hours to hike and total distance was 6.4 miles. It immediately travels up through a mixed forest of hardwoods and lush rhododendron. your own Pins on Pinterest What a treasure the Pisgah Forest is and what a gem this hike is within it. Dec 9, 2019 - After working my part-time job way the heck too much over the past few weeks I needed some relief that only a decent hike can provide. The trail continues to the left, upstream. The trail ascends the unnamed ridge via a few switchbacks. Trail Map – John Rock Hike Stephen Marsh 2016-10-16T08:28:56-05:00. You'll reach a T-intersection; the yellow-blazed John Rock trail turns right. Additionally, after the steep climb to the highest point it's a good 10-15 minutes until you get to John Rock. Footing is generally good, though there is still some erosion, and a there are a few rooty and rocky sections. It could afford some switchbacks, or even to skirt around this knob entirely. John Rock (3,320') is one of three plutons that rise from Pisgah National Forest north of Brevard. The trail is primarily used for hiking, bird watching, and backpacking and is best used from March until November. Click a trail for more details and to download it individually. Looks like beaver activity may have dammed one of the streams and water is blocking the trail as it goes straight ahead at the intersection. One of my favorite hikes in the area. Begin the hike by following Forest Service Road 475C out of the parking lot. available at all times due to system maintenance or outages. The mountain peak is very lame- no good views. Rain is predicted in the afternoon. Past the crossing, the trail becomes significantly steeper. In the meantime, please enjoy this re-post from winter 2018*** *John Rock is one of Becauseitzthere’s Best Hikes in North Carolina. Sidetrack no more than .1 mile. Hannah said: Really excellent hike! Mostly flat on this trail, you will hug the side of a hill that will eventually lead you up to John Rock. This hike did not disappoint. The round-trip hike to John Rock, which is located in Pisgah National Forest behind the education center, encompasses approximately 5 miles of trail that includes wild flowers, meadows, granite domes, creeks and waterfalls. Rock Creek Asheville Waterfall Hiking River Outdoor Outdoors Waterfalls Rain. Clarno Unit Trails Painted Hills Unit Trails Sheep Rock Unit Trails Don't Hurt the Dirt! Some great waterfalls if you follow some bushwacked paths. After a brief start on Forest Service Road 475, the trail links up with the Cat Gap Loop Trail. You'll bottom out at a crossing of Horse Cove Creek on a sketchy log bridge; on the other side you'll reach the eastern intersection with the Cat Gap Loop trail. You'll reach an intersection with FS road 475C; go straight across and continue on the Cat Gap Loop trail downhill to another stream crossing. Views of the valley below, up to the Pisgah Ridge, and across to Looking Glass Rock are this hike's main scenic attraction besides the waterfall. The switchbacks almost got to me, but I kept going and was not disappointed. Turn right onto NC 280; follow this 4-lane highway for 16 miles toward Brevard. You & This Gem. (To the right is the other end of the Cat Gap Loop trail as it comes back down from Cat Gap and the Art Loeb trail. John Rock Trail Loop is a 7.9 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Brevard, North Carolina that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. If you’re a local, you will find yourself doing this hike time after time simply for the sheer beauty presented on top of the rock. Angela said: This kind of has everything you could ask for in a hike. Trails: John Rock Trail Picnic Tables: 1. Immediately past the bridge, turn right onto the Cat Gap Loop trail. Kathy, Bill, Jim, and carol said: We had a great hike on the trail today. It was a nice warm day and we took our lunch and ate on the rock itself and soaked up the sunshine. Natasha said: JAN 2016 hike: I really loved this hike - as has been mentioned it offers a little of everything: forests, brooks, waterfalls and fantastic vistas. Use the Cat Gap Loop trail to access the John Rock trail. (If you are looking for a longer day hike, consider taking the Cat Gap Loop Trail south to the Art Loeb Trail and then west to Cedar Rock Mountain.) This short hike follows a gravel trail up a small ridge to a viewpoint overlooking the John Day River Valley and a colorful rock formation similar to Cathedral Rock… The John Rock hike is near Brevard, NC. During the Great Depression the parking lot at this hike’s trailhead was the site of Camp John Rock, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp that operated from 1933 until 1941. After a brief start on Forest Service Road 475, the trail links up with the Cat Gap Loop Trail. The Forest Service sometimes use controlled burns to reduce fuel loads and open up areas such as this. The trail is quite exposed in places and comes close to the cliff edge so use caution. HOME . I highly recommend taking the short side trail to the waterfalls. Natasha said: I omitted to add that it took us about 5.5 hours to complete this hike - that was including one extra mile (accidentally added on when we back-tracked! Green highlight indicates the route to follow within the trail network for this hike. There is nothing to see at John Rock View on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but there is a trail that heads into the woods, the .2-mile round-trip John Rock Trail. Horse Cove starts leveling out near its confluence with East Horse Cove; then the trail will pass out of the mouth of the cove and begin heading upstream beside the flat, gently flowing Davidson River. Left around 8:30 am and drove 2.5 hours to Pisgah National Forest and did the John Rock hike. Users must have a registered ORV with the Department of Natural Resources, or a MVA-tagged vehicle that is suitable for off-road use. The John Muir Trail (JMT) (Paiute: Nüümü Poyo, N-ue-mue Poh-yo) is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. As the climb begins to de-intensify, you'll reach the intersection with the Cat Gap Bypass trail. Take the easy trail over boardwalk to the lower lookout and try to spot a moose crossing the bogs. LOCATION . This isn't to say you'll be alone, however. I saw a rattlesnake not far off the trail here in May 2013 - this is definitely the type of area they like to hang out, so keep that in mind. John Rock Trail. Go 1.4 miles to the Center for Wildlife Education and Fish Hatchery. This makes a popular campsite. This time, it's a rock-hop. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until November. This is the native file format used by Google Earth, but many other map applications can use and understand KML as well, I could follow the stream to Cap Gap loop which was closer to John Rock or I could choose to take Cat Gap loop all the way around hitting John Rock trail from the other side. Saved by William Strathmann. Previous Hike: JOHN ROCK. This section of trail is on the north side of John Rock; the area is wet and several small tributary streams and seeps pass beneath the trail to join the river. So be careful approaching it and have your dog on a leash! Dogs are not allowed off trail. Discover (and save!) Is this area pet friendly? The thick understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron would make traveling off-trail here extremely.... You dip into the open at John Rock had been on my approach to John Rock gorgeous! lame-! 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Up the 5017 Service rd to the base of the side of Looking! For sure and enjoyed the easier climb going the other way two ladies their! Or missing individual trail on leash when going near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Hatchery! Children ) up there another hour for the Asheville Airport ( exit 40 ) camping 5.9 mls hiking time Elev. Almost lost their dog hike on the slick Rock face at 3,300 feet elevation that overlooks the Davidson valley... Leash as my dog, please keep it on a leash as my sliped! Views are gorgeous! a good 10-15 minutes until you get to Cat Gap trail you now turn,! The era of fire suppression, undergrowth like this has become much more dramatic uncontrolled! Use controlled burns to reduce fuel loads and open up areas such as this as it nears cliffs.