Daniel Ridge Loop Trail (and falls)
Driving directions**: From the college, drive right on Broad Street for 3 miles until you get to the Pisgah Forest intersection (near the Wal-Mart store). Turn left into Pisgah Forest (Route 276N) and go 5.2 miles and turn left on F.R. 475 (past the hatchery). Continue for 3.9 miles (2.5 miles of it are on a bumpy gravel road after you pass the fish hatchery). Be sure to take the main gravel road to the left shortly after the hatchery where another road comes in from the right. Park at a gravel parking lot you will see on the right. Begin the hike at the end of the parking lot at the Daniel Ridge Loop sign (look for the gate blocking the road). The hike could be a simple out and back along the Davidson River, but the more strenuous hike is a 4 mile loop trail that is of moderate difficulty.
Hiking directions
for the longer loop trail: Begin the hike by taking the marked
(Daniel Ridge Loop) trail at the end of the parking lot. The trail
will be marked with red blazes. In about 0.1 mile you will
come to a nice concrete bridge that crosses the river. You will continue
over the bridge and follow an old logging road. In about 30 yards,
you will see a narrower path veer off to the left with a sign leading you
on the Daniel Ridge Loop trail to the left. However, when I hiked
it with a group, our leader took us to the right, so I will too.
At this juncture, then, I recommend that you continue to the right up a
slight elevation and don't take the smaller trail to the left.
But if you head left, just follow the red blazes and do the loop
in reverse. (Directions for an easy out and back hike down that trail
follow in the next section). You will continue up a moderate elevation
rise for maybe 2/3 mile where you will come to a 150 foot water falls.
Be careful so you don't miss out on seeing the bottom of the falls before
you head up the trail (which will veer sharply to the left just before
you see the waterfall). You may need to go forward about 25 yards
after you see the Daniel Ridge sign to see the bottom of the falls, then
backtrack to the sign leading up the hill. Continue the hike up a
steeper climb up to the top of the falls. The trail will then
continue up and over the hill for another mile or more. You will
need to follow the red blazes carefully, because in places there are many
turns and you may catch yourself looking at the wildlife and seeing and
smelling nature. You'll go through a young forest where you might
be able to see Pilot Mountain.
Eventually the trail will lead down a long moderate descent down
the other side of the hill (or was it a mountain?) and you'll intersect
with the trail that leads downstream along the Davidson River. Note
the remnants of an old wooden bridge that used to cross the river.
Stay on the gravel path on this side of the river and you'll be back to
your car in another mile or so. You'll see quite a few small waterfalls
as you hike on a path just above the Davidson River. You will
connect with your original trail (bear right) near the concrete bridge.
Head over the bridge and you are just only a few yards from the parking
lot. The last .5 mile or so you may notice some primitive camping
spots off to the right. If you like rustic camping, but don't want
to really back pack a great distance, this might be a reasonable place
to do so. Remember, please, leave no trace. Note: this area
is also a great mountain bike area and it is open to bikes all year round.
Hiking directions for
an easy, scenic "out and back" -This hike is a fairly easy hike
that takes you along a route just above the Davidson River. Along
the way out there is only a slight but persistent gentle elevation gain,
and on the way back you get a gentle descent. It's a trail where
you can definitely smell and see nature. Begin the hike by
taking the marked (Daniel Ridge) gravel path at the end of the parking
lot (look for the sign near the gate). In about 0.1 miles you
will come to a nice concrete bridge that crosses the river. You will
go over that bridge and in about 30 yards you will see a sign for Daniel
Ridge trail (red blazes) and a narrow path veer off to the left as the
main logging road heads up hill to the right. Take the narrower path
to the left, and hike along the trail. You will pass primitive campsites
to your left and you may feel surrounded by natural beauty as you travel
along the path just above the river as it meanders through the forest.
There will be numerous small waterfalls off to your left. You may
even find a side path heading down to the water which you can't resist.
Go as far as you'd like then turn around and head back the way you came.
You might decide to turn around after about 3/4 mile when you get to 5
or 6 open stairs, heading up a slightly steeper elevation for a very short
distance. You can also continue further (going about twice as far
by continuing until you get to the old wooden bridge crossing the river.
The bridge is impassable and the main trial continues on a long loop over
the mountain, and if I'm not doing the whole loop, this is definitely the
place to turn around. Head back the way you came, following the red
blazes. When you get back to the intersection where you first veered
off at the "Y" on the way in, you have an option of heading up the hill
for 1/2 mile or so to see a nice 150 foot waterfall (which will be
on your left). If you do so, that makes the hike a bit harder but
the falls is quite tall, but not quite spectacular. Turn around after
seeing the falls, and head back down the way you came. It will lead
back to the "Y", where you continue straight to cross the concrete bridge
and head to the parking lot.
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Important Information: As always, when hiking you should always:
** I am not responsible for anyone getting lost or injured when
taking one of these hikes. Neither is the College. You are
responsible for making sure you are adequately prepared.
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