Wilson Creek Trails
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The trails in the Wilson Creek area are generally rugged, so be prepared. Most are signed at trailheads, but few have internal signs or blazes on the trees. The descriptions below are for a few of the more popular trails. Use the descriptions in conjunction with a map of the area. All of these trails are open to hiking and a few are open to mountain bikes. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail, blazed with white circles, crosses through the area.
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N. Harper Creek Falls - blazed in yellow
Trail #239, 1.3 miles. The parking area for this trail is located off Forest Road 464. It connects to Trail 266.
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Wilson Creek
Trail #258, 6.0 miles. Parking is located north of Edgemont off Hwy 90. Trail follows the Wilson Creek to its intersection with FS 192.
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Harpers Creek - blazed in orange
Trail #260, 5.0 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 1,460, ending at 2,200. Easy trail. 0.5 miles to Harpers Creek Falls.
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Huntfish Falls
Trail #263, 0.7 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 2,400, ending at 1,800. Part of the MST. Winds down a scenic cove hardwood forest to a 20-foot waterfall. The steepest section is the last 0.1 mile as the trail descends to Lost Cove Creek.
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Yellow Buck - blazed in red
Trail #265, 2.1 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 2,200, ending at 1,600. Parking is located off FS 464. The trail follows an old logging road through the pine, chestnut, and oak forest. It starts to climb the ridge gradually, but soon becomes very steep as it ascends Yellow Buck Mtn. This trail can be combined with Trail 260, 266, and 270 for a 5-mile loop.
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N. Harper Creek - blazed in blue
Trail #266, 6.9 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 3,175, ending at 1,860. This trail is accessed from either Kawana Road, FS 58, or from Wilson Creek Road via Trail 260. This trail is relatively easy with the only strenuous part being in the North Harper Creek Falls area.
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Greentown (Bikes and Hiking) - blazed in blue
Trail #268, 6.6 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 2,800, ending at 2,360. Access this trail off Hwy 181. The trail starts off through a small apple orchard and follows an old logging road down to Upper Creek. It is a moderately steep grade for 1.5 miles, then travels along Burnthouse Branch. It junctions with FS 198. Follow road for 0.5 mile. The trail continues to the north until it junctions with Trail 277.
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Wilson Ridge (Bikes and Hiking)
Trail #269, 14.7 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 1,280, ending at 2,200. Follows along ridge on east side of Wilson Creek. The trail can be accessed off Wilson Creek Road and Hwy 90. Additional parking areas are being researched this year. This trail has not been maintained, so use caution.
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Persimmon Ridge - blazed in yellow
Trail #270, 3.0 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 2,600, ending at 2,200. This trail starts at Kawana Road, FS 58, and climbs up for a short distance to the top of Persimmon Ridge. It follows the ridge, then passes through a rhododendron thicket before descending steeply for 0.5 mile to N. Harper Creek and N. Harper Creek Trail.
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Big Lost Cove Cliff
Trail #271, 1.5 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 3,460, ending at 3,400. This trail starts at an old logging road and ascends to a broad, open hardwood ridge at Big Lost Cove ridge. After one mile on the logging road, the trail descends steeply towards Big Cove Cliffs. The trail levels off near a fork in the logging road. Bearing to the left at this fork and the next, the trail will lead to the cliffs.
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Little Lost Cove
Trail #271A, 1.3 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 3,000, ending at 3,000. This trail starts on an old logging road. It goes through a small orchard about 0.25 mile from the parking area. For a short distance, the trail ascends steeply out of the backside of the orchard. The trail levels off and goes through a predominately oak forest. There are two spur trails that take off to the right that go to the lower cliffs. At the top of the cliffs, there is almost a 360-degree view, including Grandfather Mountain.
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Raider Camp - blazed in yellow
Trail #277, 2.3 miles. Elevation: Beginning at 1,560, ending at 2,200. Access this trail from Trail 260 off Wilson Creek Road, or off Kawana Road, FS 58. S. Harper Creek Falls is the main attraction on this trail. The falls cascade 200 feet down a large granite rock formation. The trail grade is relatively easy, but becomes a bit steeper as it descends toward the ridge above Raider Camp Creek.
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Thorps Creek - Schoolhouse Ridge (Bikes and Hiking)
Trail #279, 5.8 mile loop. Elevation: Beginning at 1,600, ending at 1,580. This is a loop trail that begins at Mortimer Campground and follows Thorps Creek for 2.4 miles passing the falls. The trail reaches the headwaters of Thorps Creek at Wilson Ridge. Bearing to the left at each intersection will bring you to Schoolhouse Ridge.
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