Shelton Laurel Backcountry Area Trails
Fork Ridge
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 285
This trail steadily climbs through upland hardwood forests and rhododendron thickets. After the initial ascent, the trail mostly follows ridge tops offering views of Big Creek drainage. The best viewing times are early spring, late fall and winter. The trail can be combined with the Appalachian, Green Ridge or Jerry Miller trails to form a loop. No water is available.
Green Ridge
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 287
This trail begins at the gate on FR 3509 and follows gravel road for one mile. At this point, the trail leaves the gravel road and follows an old wooded road into a cove. The path then steadily climbs Green Ridge and crosses Dry Creek headwaters. The trail eventually reaches Green Ridge Mountain's crest, which it follows to its terminus with the Appalachian Trail.
Hickey Fork
USGS/USFS Number: 292
The Hickey Fork trail travels through the Shelton Laurel Backcountry Area. It should be treated as such; only those experienced in wilderness travel should attempt to hike all of it. More casual hikers will enjoy an out-and-back trip to the falls on Hickey Fork without much trouble, though. The trail is well-blazed, but it is heavily overgrown - and in the summer a lot of the overgrowth is stinging nettle. Do wear long pants!
Beginning on Hickey Fork Road, the trail crosses Hickey Fork Creek on a sturdy log bridge. It then follows the creek upstream for a short distance before curving back and ascending the ridge on the opposite side. It's a moderate grade in a forest of dead and dying hemlocks and an understory of mostly rhododendron. The trail rounds the ridge, descends to cross a tributary on stepping stones and then moves into the West Prong valley. You cross another tributary on a log bridge, and then cross the main stream on stepping stones. This crossing should nearly always be possible except in very high water, though you may get your feet wet.
The trail then meanders through a level area, going upstream, before beginning to climb sidehill. A couple of small tributary branches are crossed here and the level course gives way to a steady climb. At one point, a large rock juts out over the valley just to the right of the trail. Just past that, the trail joins with and follows a tributary stream uphill for a few feet - look for log steps where it emerges. Hickey Fork drops away in the valley below as you climb, before coming back to meet you at the top of a very long waterslide. The trail climbs away from the creek again, before passing a waterfall proper - a very nice place to stop and enjoy the scenery. A steep side path leads to the base of the falls. This is where most people turn around, although the trail continues.
Beyond the falls, the trail climbs moderately on a very steep slope beside the creek, and in a couple of places the tread is dangerously close to some small soil cliffs due to erosion. You will cross an old landslide scar at one point. The trail will cross a tributary and then curve left, following it uphill on the right. Here the trail becomes extremely steep. The tributary fades away as you climb and you will pass into a more open woods of mostly oak and maple. Finally, the climb relents (but only slightly) as grade-reducing switchbacks are introduced. The trail curves through an open cove head before switching back left and emerging on the Poundingmill trail at Seng Gap.
Jerry Miller
Blaze Color: Yellow
USGS/USFS Number: 286
Formerly known as the Whiteoak Flats trail (not sure of the reasoning behind the name change). The trail leaves FR 111 from parking on the road’s left side. The trail is especially scenic in late spring when the rhododendron and mountain laurel are in bloom.
Crossing Big Creek and climbing a narrow ridge, the trail gradually drops to an old logging road along Whiteoak Flats branch. The trail runs into the Whiteoak Flats wildlife opening. The trail then follows the old road for three miles and becomes a foot trail that climbs through heavy brush. The trail then connects with the Appalachian Trail at Bear Wallow Gap. This last section of trail is not well marked or worn from use. No markers or directional signs are located at the Appalachian Trail intersection.
The official Forest Service literature on this one says "While on the trail you will be able to view a 100 foot high waterfall". I've never seen the falls myself, and I've seen several references that seem to indicate that it just doesn't exist. In fact, I'm thinking this might be confused with a Whiteoak Flats Branch Falls in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A mystery for another hike, I suppose.
White Oak
Blaze Color: Blue
USGS/USFS Number: 293
This trail offers a walk through upland hardwood forests with winter views of Baxter Cliffs. The trail provides loop opportunities with Pounding Mill and Hickey Fork trails.
