Be careful with your pets, people - - this predator would have frightened one of these dogs to run off trail, and there would have been nothing these ladies could have done to save their four legged companion. John Jenkins said: Does anyone have any information on camping along cedar rock creek? At A Glance. Come prepared. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Base layer images are subject to the respective copyright policies of their owners. The strenuous hike has a cumulative elevation gain of 2,000 feet. The trees become smaller and disappear right before you pop out onto the face of John Rock. This is the native file format used by Google Earth, but many other map applications can use and understand KML as well, Lupperrrrr said: This is a great hike. Additionally, after the steep climb to the highest point it's a good 10-15 minutes until you get to John Rock. The spores of this plant are very flammable, and were once used to make flash bulbs for photography. Once dominated by cool, dark hemlock trees, this section of forest is returning to a place of cove hardwoods, with just a few scattered mature hemlock remaining alive as of early 2019. (To get to the base of the main falls, follow the path downhill from the campsite. It isn't marked, but you can hear it when you are close by and it is a skinny trail at some points, but just keep going and you will see it. Cat Gap Trail to John Rock Loop is a 5.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Pisgah Forest, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. If you bring a dog, please keep it on a leash as my dog sliped of the rock last christmas. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. May 29, 2014 - 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. Overview Cedar Rock Mountain rises in the vicinity of two more famous local mountains: John Rock and Looking Glass Rock. This trail map is provided for information only and should only be used for planning. (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. With all of the rain we have had, it is worth it for sure. Free trail maps, driving directions, regulations, fees and camping information for St. John's Rock ORV Trail in Maryland. It immediately travels up through a mixed forest of hardwoods and lush rhododendron. One portion is a steep climb up a jumbled rock pile. Then it drops downhill slightly into a cove filled with a dense undergrowth of rhododendron and mountain laurel. the colors were beautiful and everything was well marked if you're paying attention. Difficulty Rating: 7.59 Tread Condition: Moderately Rough Climb: Climbs Steeply Lowest Elevation: 2350 ft Highest Elevation: 3320 ft Climb Total: 1000 ft Configuration: Loop Starting Point: Parking Area at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education (Fish Hatchery), Trails Used: Cat Gap Loop, Cat Gap Bypass, John Rock. 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. Muddy, but no problem if you wear boots. Near the end of the hike, a large, once-attractive campsite opens up to your right. Finally, you will step out into the open at John Rock. Great view of looking glass rock. Information Only – NOT FOR NAVIGATION. The trail is the actual GPS track, however, the topo map is based on the current USGS 24k topo map. But for now, watch your footing as the trail is rocky and deeply eroded with roots crossing the trail, suspended a foot or more in mid-air in places. Angela said: This kind of has everything you could ask for in a hike. Jeremy said: Well I did the trail backwards and came back the same way until I got to the service road and took the road back to the parking lot. A family hike in two parts. It reminds me of a mini version of the nearby Pink Beds area, with slow, meandering streams winding through shrubby and open areas. This goes without saying, but: be extremely careful here! John Rock Pisgah National Forest Hike. That rock scares me. It took us about 3 hours to hike and total distance was 6.4 miles. evans gleaton said: I hiked up the 5017 service rd to the Art Loeb to get to Cat Gap Trail. Kathy, Bill, Jim, and carol said: We had a great hike on the trail today. It's the one region we haven't spent much time in … Among the 400+ miles of trails in the Pisgah Ranger District (there are two other districts in the 500,000-acre forest, too), the hike to John Rock is a ranger favorite. Dark, lacy hemlocks used to grow in the shade of the tuliptrees here, waiting paitently for a chance to dominate the canopy some decades into the future, but unfortunately, they are narly all dead now. This trail will get your blood pumping from the start, with a climb up some log steps, but it soon levels out to a gently rolling grade. KBEAR said: Just did the loop today for my birthday. Scroll down to see more content. As you go out around ridges, look for mostly oak trees. Covered and I’ve and someone almost lost their dog. Hiking to the top of John Rock in the Pisgah National Forest is one hike that is worth planning. available at all times due to system maintenance or outages. Bless it. You'll pass through varied forest environments in rapid succession. Next Hike . This cove sports a spectactular spring wildflower display. 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. INCREDIBLE SURPRISE VIEW! Just to the right of Looking Glass Rock (northeast) is Coontree Mountain, and to the right of that is Bearpen Mountain. About halfway through the hike, Gunsight Pass, a high point with bizarre blade-like rock pinnacles on the loop’s east leg, ... Go John Trail. 5.6k members in the NCTrails community. The trail will cross the creek again. There is one adjustment to the trail. The trail took us 5.89 miles and around 2:45 minutes. GPX is compatible with Google Earth, I will be hiking this one again and again. I will do it again, but not every weekend. The critter was tracking these two little dogs as potential meals. Rain is predicted in the afternoon. Previous Hike: JOHN ROCK. The trail up to John's Rock is a nice walk. In just a short distance further, you'll come out of the forest at the eastern end of the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education parking lot. Description. 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. Since the era of fire suppression, undergrowth like this has become much more common. The John Muir Trail passes through what many backpackers say is the finest mountain scenery in the United States. Although you are climbing gain very slightly on this section of trail, you'll hardly notice it compared to the rest of this hike. I followed the instructions above and did not get lost, although there are several points where you could take a 'wrong turn' and lengthen your over all trip. John Rock is a big exposed rock face that overlooks the Blue Ridge mountains and a great view of Looking Glass Rock. From this cove, the trail begins winding back uphill again slightly, over into the next cove, where it starts to descend in earnest. Many Great hike! Soon after you leave the trail head Cat Gap will head across a bridge and to the left. The lush forest in this area is dominated by tall, straight tuliptrees, one of the most common Cove Hardwood species. Hannah said: Really excellent hike! We started on the way to Johns Rock and then headed down to the waterfalls and bypass. The mountain peak is very lame- no good views. Turn left, downhill. The hike takes you to the top of John Rock, which is a large open face that you stare at as you climb. Coyote just being a coyote. PERSPECTIVE John Rock is a pluton (a granite dome) just like Looking Glass Rock, but it's not as dominant or spherical. It’s near four waterfalls that can be access via the Cat Gap Loop trailhead, which begins at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Off NC 276, just south of Looking Glass Falls, there's a paved Forest Service (FS) road #475 that leads to the Fish Hatchery. Trail Map – John Rock Hike Stephen Marsh 2016-10-16T08:28:56-05:00. A classic Pisgah hike, plus a simple nature trail for kids. I like the short step climbs as I'm not such a switchback fan. YOLO, right? 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. This is the highest point on the hike, at approximately 3320 ft in elevation. Turn left here onto the John Rock trail. Picklz said: My husband and I just hiked part of this trail this weekend...must have decided to go the wrong way, cause we missed the waterfall....this is a very tough hike for beginners...especially with all the tree roots sticking up thru the ground...have to watch your step constantly to keep from tripping...was an awesome view once we got to the top though...will have to go back and do the round trip next time... Alice said: Hiked loop today. The view from the rock is amazing and we worry about people who take dogs (or stray children) up there without guidance. HOME . If you go the direction in the description I think the waterfall is very easy to find (you can see it through the trees.) I recommend looking glass over this trail if you have to pick. The 8-mile hike will take in the summits of two bare rock faces: Cedar Rock and John Rock. I'd rather climb the climb straight on. The John Rock Trail is accessed via the Cat Gap Loop Trail. A short, moderately steep climb takes you up to an old roadbed. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/cat-gap-trail-to-john-rock-loop Madbomr Hobo Marker said: If you're looking for killer views, then John Rock is the hike to take. But for now, watch your footing as the trail is rocky and deeply eroded with roots crossing the trail, suspended a foot or more in mid-air in places. John Rock Hike On May 31st I took on an ambitious hike to John Rock in the Pisgah National Forest. Trail was a bit muddy but still manageable. 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. Bear left where the path drops over a small ledge to find a less risky route around and down. But continue straight ahead to reach the overlook. This is also the best place to start if you want to hike to John Rock and head back out the way you came. 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