Davidson River Trail Infomation

This is your guide to the individual trails in the Davidson River area.

Andy Cove Nature Tr.

Easy, 0.7mi, Few Hills, Some Obstacles

Trails Illustrated Map Number: 1
USGS Map Number: 288
Map on TopoZone
National Recreation Trail; constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps. You'll find interpretive stations along the way. The trail rises on the hillside behind the Visitor Center and Ranger Station, and elevated walkways carry you over steep and marshy areas. There is one long, neat suspension bridge located about halfway around the loop.

Art Loeb Bypass

Easy, 0.7mi, Climbs Gently, Few Obstacles

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Short and mostly level. Follows an old roadbed.

Art Loeb Section 1

Easy, 12.3mi, Level, Few Obstacles

Blaze Color: White
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 2
Art Loeb Trail, Section 1 Starting at the Davidson River Campground, the trail ascends Shut-in Ridge (not to be confused with the Shut-in Ridge near the French Broad River further north, where the long Shut-in Trail begins). It travels through Cat Gap and eventually around Cedar Rock Mountain and down into Gloucester Gap. Section 1 ends there.

Art Loeb Section 2

Difficult, 7.2mi

Blaze Color: White
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 3
Art Loeb Trail Section 2

Avery Creek

Moderate, 3.2mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 7
USGS Map Number: 327
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Steep, rocky at north end. Logged areas. Large waterfall, hemlock and rhododendron groves. Log bridges.

Bennett Gap

Moderate, 2.9mi, Climbs Moderately, Moderately Rough

Blaze Color: Red
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 11
USGS Map Number: 138
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Excellent ridgetop views of Looking Glass Rock, Cedar Rock, and the Davidson River valley. Mixed hardwoods on wide part of ridge and in gap. Dry pine-oak forests on narrow part of ridge. Cliff-top views on ridge. Sheer drop-offs right beside the trail near intersection with Perry Cove tr.

Biltmore Campus

Easy, 0.9mi

Trails Illustrated Map Number: 15
USGS Map Number: 006

Black Mountain

Most Difficult, 19mi, Climbs Steeply, Very Rough

Blaze Color: White
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 16
USGS Map Number: 127
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Long, rough trail. Incredible cliff-top views near the top. Switchbacks; needle-sharp ridgeline. Mixed hardwood forests. Rhododendron tunnels. Travels over the summit of Clawhammer and Black Mountains.

Bridges Camp Gap

Moderate, 1mi

Trails Illustrated Map Number: 20

Buck Spring

6.2mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: White
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 21
USGS Map Number: 104
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Travels first from the first switchback on US 276 above the Pink Beds to the Pisgah Inn. This is a gradual, pleasant climb that dips into coves & rounds the nose of many ridges with cove hardwoods in the coves and mixed hardwoods on the ridges. There are a few small stream crossings. Then travels to the Mount Pisgah parking area. This section is moderately steep and passes through the remnants of a Chestnut forest with some relatively large remaining specimens. Rest of forest is mixed high elevation hardwoods with a few hemlocks, spruces and firs. Also passes cliff-top views and the historic Buck Springs Lodge site with interpretive signs. Ends at the Mount Pisgah parking area, where you can continue on to the top of Mt. Pisgah itself or hike to Asheville via the Shut-in Trail.

Buckhorn Gap

More Difficult, 4.6mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 23
USGS Map Number: 103
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Several creek crossings on lower end. Log bridges. Cove hardwood/dense hemlock forests w/ some huge hemlocks. Intersects short spur to Twin Falls (highly recommended). Intersects Avery Creek trail. Trail has recently undergone extensive re-engineering and repairs. Beyond Twin Falls, trail is a sidehill climb on old roadbeds. Intersects & follows gravel roads to reach the Gap. Int. w/ Black Mountain trail at Buckhorn Gap.

Buckwheat Knob

Moderate, 1.5mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 24
USGS Map Number: 122
Map on TopoZone
Ridgeline trail. Passes some enormous trees. Steep climbs; rocky sections.

Butter Gap

Moderate, 2.7mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Blue
USGS Map Number: 123
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Scenic. Starts in Pickelsimer Fields; a flat, grassy area with crystal clear streams meandering through. Typical streamside trail further along. Trailside waterfall. Stiff climb up to Butter Gap; passes headwaters of the stream.

Caney Bottom

Moderate, 4.6mi, Climbs Moderately, Moderately Rough

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 27
USGS Map Number: 361
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Travels from the Cove Creek trail at Cove Creek Group Campground up Caney Bottom Creek to reconnect with Cove Creek trail near the headwaters. Makes an excellent loop when combined with the Cove Creek trail. Passes several small to medium-sized waterfalls. Climbs high up the hill above the creek in places. Some areas have tricky roots, rocks, wet areas, or stream sections. Some trail is built on old roadbeds while some is strictly trail. Beautiful, rich woods with open, fern-filled sections.

Caney Bottom Extension

Easy, 0.7mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 26
USGS Map Number: 340
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Short; bypasses the Cove Creek Group Campground.

Case Camp Ridge

Difficult, 1.7mi

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 30
USGS Map Number: 119
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Cat Gap Bypass

Easy, 0.4mi, Some Hills, Few Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 32
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Level or gradually climbing trail swings into coves & around ridges. Mixed hardwood forest w/ some hemlocks & pines. Pleasant walk. Cuts off climb up to Cat Gap from the Cat Gap Loop. Int. w/ John Rock trail.

Cat Gap Loop

Moderate, 4.4mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 31
USGS Map Number: 120
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Nice loop starts and ends at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education & Fish Hatchery. Described CCW. Loops around John Rock. Varied trail; forests range from cove hardwoods, to groves of hemlocks, white pine plantations, and mixed hardwoods in higher elevations. Passes waterfall near large campsite on Cedar Rock Creek. Plank & log bridges. Passes Picklesimer Fields on R. @ int. w/ Butter Gap Tr. Moderate climb up ridge. Int. w/spur loop to top of John Rock. Int. Cat Gap Bypass. Steep descent to Horse Cove follows, then other end of John Rock tr., then level walk along the Davidson River. See also John Rock Best Hike.

Cemetery Loop

Easy, 1.2mi, Some Hills, Few Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 34
USGS Map Number: 341
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Follows an old road past cemetery on a plateau near the Davidson River. Lots of white pines & hemlocks, & mountain laurel groves.

Clawhammer Cove

Moderate, 1.5mi

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 37
USGS Map Number: 342
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Club Gap

Moderate, 0.8mi

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 38
USGS Map Number: 343

Coontree Loop

Moderate, 3.7mi, Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 41
USGS Map Number: 144
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Pleaseant loop; travel in either direction. Nothing spectacular, just typical creekside, mountainside and ridgetop landscape. Loop travels up one nondescript cove and down another. Joins with Bennet Gap trail for portion along the ridge. Mostly hemlock/cove hardwood forests near the bottom, mostly oak forest near the top with plenty of mountain laurel groves.

Cove Creek

Moderate, , Climbs Moderately, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Climbs past Cove Creek Falls on an old road bed, through rich forests far above the stream, to flat areas near the headwaters and then up to Forest Service Road. Unfortunately there is no good connector from the trail to Cove Creek Falls. This is a disgrace! You'll have to take some eroded, rocky, unsigned side paths to get there but it is well worth it. Log bridges; beautiful forest and stream scenes.

Daniel Ridge Loop

Moderate, 4mi, Hilly, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Red
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 45
USGS Map Number: 105
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Fantastic loop trail. Described CW. Travels along the upper reaches of the Davidson River & then a major tributary. Follows old roadbed at lower end. Passes old fish hatchery & ruins of an old bridge. Trail narrows & clings to steep hillside above Right Fork; large, straight poplars grow in a cove hardwood forest here. At int. w/ Farlow Gap tr.; begins moderate climb thru smaller mixed hardwoods & pleasant open forests. Crests ridge; descends through logged areas moderatly steeply at times. Then travels through somewhat more level valley of hemlocks, rhododendrons, and twisted Mt. Laurels. Creek crossings; plank & log bridges. Large switchback at end as creek spills out of this level valley & over Daniel Ridge Falls; turn L. at int. w/ gravel road to reach base of falls. Turn R. to close loop.

Davidson River

Easy, 1.1mi, Climbs Gently, Few Obstacles

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 46
Map on TopoZone
Follows old FR 475. The road has been re-routed further uphill now. Level or gentle climbs, gravel surface. Davidson River is in scenic small gorge below this road at this point. Several landslides in September of 2004 sent parts of this trail sliding 100' into the river below.

Exercise Trail

Easy, 1.5mi, Climbs Gently, Few Obstacles

Trails Illustrated Map Number: 49
USGS Map Number: 344

Farlow Gap

Difficult, 3.1mi, Climbs Steeply, Somewhat Rough

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 52
USGS Map Number: 106
Map on TopoZone

Forest Festival

Easy, 1mi

Trails Illustrated Map Number: 58
USGS Map Number: 319

Grassy Road

Easy, 1mi

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 62

John Rock

Moderate, 1.8mi, Hilly, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 74
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Steep and rocky near upper intersection w/ Cat Gap. Travels over wide ridgeline to face of John Rock; spectacular view of Looking Glass Rock & the Pisgah Ridge near the Black Balsam Mountain area. Travels through flat areas & steep coves near lower intersection with Cat Gap. Mixed hardwood forests.

Long Branch

Moderate, 2.5mi, Hilly, Moderately Rough

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 84
USGS Map Number: 116
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Interesting trail travels through some flat streamside areas near upper end & also up and over low ridges. Some muddy sections near upper end have been reinforced with puncheon and/or rock & gravel causeways. Travels through some dense stands of mountain laurel. Most stream crossings are not bridged.

Looking Glass Rock

Moderate, 3.1mi, Climbs Steeply, Somewhat Rough

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 86
USGS Map Number: 114
Best Hike Using This Trail
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A classic Pisgah trail. Travels first through small cove, then steeply up the back side of Looking Glass Rock through many switchbacks. Mixed cove hardwood, hardwood, and pine-oak forests. Some areas of rare Carolina hemlocks. Rock slabs. End of trail is at top of cliffs; use extreme caution (however rock at edge of forest is nearly level; watch out for moss & wet rock). Incredible views of Pisgah Ridge from Mt. Pisgah toward the Shining Rock/Black Balsam Mtn. Area & valleys below. Highly recommended.

Moore Cove

Easy, 0.7mi, Climbs Gently, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 90
Best Hike Using This Trail
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Travels beside a scenic stream to 70' free-falling Moore Cove Falls. Beautiful open cove hardwood forest with fern gardens. Several plank bridges & log causeways over wet areas. Rock outcroppings. This trail makes an excellent hike for families, and even small children can make it to the falls.

North Slope

Moderate, 3.7mi, Hilly, Some Obstacles

Trails Illustrated Map Number: 97
USGS Map Number: 359
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Loop starts and ends in the Davidson River campground. Described CCW. Follows Davidson River, then steepens & follows smaller stream up through cove. Hemlock groves near lower end. Levels at top; becomes sidehill; dips into coves & out around ridges. Interesting bridge over deep gully. Mostly mixed hardwood forest; Mt. Laurel/Rhododendron tunnels. Descends moderately to amphitheater again at campground. A must-hike if you're staying at the campground.

North Slope Connector

Perry Cove

Easy, 1.2mi, Level, Few Obstacles

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 101
USGS Map Number: 151

Pink Beds Loop

Moderate, 5mi, Few Hills, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 106
USGS Map Number: 118
Best Hike Using This Trail
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An excellent loop which travels around the bottom of a unique valley. This is the "Cradle of Forestry in America", where modern forestry techniques were first developed, taught & practiced. Trail is mostly level with a few small hills on north side of loop. Many bridged stream crossings & boggy areas with log causeways on south side of loop . Mixed forest; lots of very large White Pines & Hemlocks. Rest of forest is oaks & cove hardwoods. Unique beaver dams near outer portion of loop; trail may be flooded or bridge washed out requiring backtrack or wading river (dangerous in high water). Dying forest in this area due to flooding; interesting transition. Very large fern gardens & open woods near outer end of loop. Rhododendron & Mtn. Laurel tunnels on N. Side. Near parking area, pass through wildlife fields. Mountains to Sea Trail cuts across center of loop, for possible shorter loop.

Pressley Cove

Difficult, 1.1mi

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 109
USGS Map Number: 112

Seniard Ridge

3.5mi

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 113
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Slick Rock Falls

Moderate, 0.7mi, Climbs Moderately, Moderately Rough

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 119
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Very short path climbs moderately steeply up to small falls. Continues uphill to base of Looking Glass Rock. Stay away from very slippery rocks near top of falls. Animals frequently slide down this rock and over the falls to their deaths.

Sunwall

Moderate, 0.4mi

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 126
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Sycamore Cove

Moderate, 3.2mi, Hilly, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Blue
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 127
USGS Map Number: 143
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Travels up & down through coves near small streams; cove hardwood forests. In between, travels sidehill near the top of the ridge w/ a mixed hardwood forest.

Thrift Cove

Easy, 3.8mi

Blaze Color: Red
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 129
USGS Map Number: 603
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Twin Falls

Easy, 0.4mi, Some Hills, Some Obstacles

Blaze Color: Yellow
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 132
USGS Map Number: 604
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Short trail travels through cove hardwood forests to Twin Falls. Logging railroad remnants. Highly recommended.

Wagon Road Gap

Difficult, 0.7mi

Blaze Color: Orange
Trails Illustrated Map Number: 137
USGS Map Number: 134

Trails in the Davidson River Area