Buck Spring Gap to Pisgah Inn and Little Bald Mountain

About the Hike

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Hike Description

Contact hike leader via email for reservation. Limit of 12 hikers. The hike follows a one-mile section of MST referred to as Buck Spring Nature Trail. En route we will hike a northern hardwood forest, visit the former location of Buck Spring Lodge and an overlook on Little Bald Mtn. with long-range views of Pink Beds Valley. The leader will identify sites of interest on numbered posts along the trail. An optional add-on is a one-mile hike out and back to Buck Spring Dam's pump house ruins.Topos: Dunsmore Mt

Scout Report

Hike is 2.6 mi out & back including spur to Little Bald Mtn; ascent 400'. View of BIg Creek, AVL and Bearwallow Mtn from T.H. looking E; view of Great Balsams and Plott Balsams from T.H. looking W. View of Looking Glass Rock and Cedar Rock Mtn from Little Bald Mtn. Optional hike to Buck Spring Lodge dam is 1 mi out & back; ascent 300', Optional hike down Vanderbilt Motor Road from overlook is 0.5 mi out & back. Lodge ruins include springhouse, stable courtyard, and footprint of Honeymoon Cottage. Berries include mountain ash, mountain holly, hawthorn, chokeberry, carrion flower, Indian cucumber root and Solomon's seal. Almost all evergreen trees are red spruce. Witch hazel is blooming. Many American chestnut stump sprouts; some with burs. Largest chestnut has trunk diameter of 16".