Click on any image to see a larger picture.
Our trip starts on October 21, 1995, at the Black Mountain Campground at the foot of Mt. Mitchell. The campground sits beside the South Toe River. Here you are looking west, toward Mt. Mitchell.
According to legend the river was named for the native American princess, Estatoe. She was
in love with a brave from another tribe across the mountains. When the brave came to claim
Estatoe's hand, he was murdered by her people ( Isn't always the same?) In
her grief, Estatoe drowned herself in the river. From that time, the Native Americans called
the river Estatoe, and this was eventually shortened by the white man to Toe.
This is the view downriver from the campground bridge. Big Ridge is in the background.
The Black Mountain Crest Trail begins at the parking lot on top of Mount Mitchell. The trail then heads north along the crest of the Black Mountain Range, crossing famous peaks such as Mt. Craig and Mt. Big Tom. Mt. Craig was named for Locke Craig, the Governor of North Carolina in 1912. Mt. Big Tom was named for Tom Wilson, a famous bear hunter and woodsman who found Dr. Elisha Mitchell's body at what is now called Mitchell Falls.
From Big Tom Peak, the trail drops into Big Tom Gap, intersecting with the Big Tom Gap Trail which descends on the east side of the ridge line to the Buncombe Horse Range TraiI .
As the traiI continues, it crosses CattaiI Peak and Potato Hill, then descends into Deep Gap where you will find a shelter which sleeps four.
After leaving Deep Gap, the trail climbs to the summit of Deer Mountain continuing along the crest of the Black Mountain Range to Celo Knob with spectacular views along the way on both sides of the ridge. After crossing Celo Knob, the trail descend the head of Bowlen's Creek tying into an old logging road that passes by several old mines which were worked in the early 1900's. The trail then enters into a mature stand of hardwood timber. While following Bowlen's Creek, you pass many beautiful fishing spots before coming to the Bowlens Creek Road . (NC 1109).
Trail# 178
Colberts Ridge Trail
Distance - 3.7 miles, partially graded
Elevation at Colberts Creek Road, 2,750'
Elevation at Deep Gap, 5,700'
Beginning on the Colberts Creek Road the trail ascends gently the first .5 mile and then more steeply as it climbs toward Deep Gap. There are occasional rock outcrops that give the hiker good views of the crest of the Black Mountain Range and the South Toe River Valley. On clear days such prominent peaks as Roan Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, and Table Rock can be seen.
At 3.6 miles the trail reaches Deep Gap and intersects the Celo Knob Trail. At 3.7 miles the trail reaches the Deep Gap Trail Shelter.
TRAILHEAD AND DESCRIFTION: (Sections of this trail were formerly called Deep Gap Trail and Celo Knob Trail. A former 3.5 mi; access route, Woody Ridge Trail [USFS # 177] from the community of Celo is no longer in use.)
The Southern trailhead is in Mt. Mitchell State Park, and vehicles must be registered with the park ranger if left overnight. The Northern trailhead is on FR-5578 off Bowlens Creek Rd (SR-1109), 3 mi south of Burnsville.
Warning the large map is HUGE (4 MB). But this will give you some idea of the trail.
Leave the Mt. Mitchell picnic area and parking lot
The Mt. Mitchell lookout tower from the parking lot.
( The big file is BIG!).
Hike North on what is considered to be the most rugged trail in the district. It is also the highest with a traverse of a dozen peaks over 6,000 ft within 6 mi. Follow the orange-blazed trail over rocky terrain and through dense vegetation. Sections of spruce and fir groves are dying from acid rain and woolly aphids. On the larger versions of each of the images you will see dead and dying Frasier firs, red spruce, and hardwoods.
Mt. Craig.Reach Big Tom Mountain after another 1 mi (6,593 ft); it was named in honor of Thomas Wilson. There is a junction at 1.6 miles with the primitive Big Town Gap Trail on the right. (The Big Tom Gap Trail is a 0.5-mi steep connector to the Buncombe Horse Range Trail.)
Continue on the crest among ferns, thornless blackberry, Clinton's lily, moosewood, spruce, and fir to the summit of
Balsam Cone (6,611 ft) at 1.9 miles.
Balsam Cone from Mt. Craig.
Cattail Peak.
Ascend to Cattail Peak (6,583 ft) at 2.5 miles. Leave the state-park boundary and enter the National Forest boundary to ascend Potato Hill at 3 miles.
Western view from between Potato Hill and Cattail Peak.
Reach Deep Gap shelter at 3.9 mi. (The shelter has four, large wood bunks, a mouse that thinks it is Mighty Mouse, tent camping sites are nearby, and water is 300 yards down the mountain in front of the shelter.(The last 50 yds are STRAIGHT DOWN!))
The junction with the Colbert Ridge Trail on the right, at 4 miles. The Colbert Ridge Trail is a 3.6-mi access route from Carolina Hemlocks Recreational Area (see description above).
Last updated 03/15/95 by
David Royster droyster@uncc.edu
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