I used to joke with friends while I lived in Athens, Georgia, that I was something of a North Carolina supremacist. I was referring to the hiking, of course.
The piedmont didn’t do much to excite me, and without higher elevations to escape to, I had little desire to be outside in the oppressive Georgia summers.
In June, I moved back to the Western North Carolina mountains after a two-year hiatus while I completed my master’s degree at the University of Georgia, and I’ll be damned if it isn’t the most beautiful time of the year to make my return.
Before Athens, I lived in Brevard for nearly 12 years, and during my time there, I became deeply attached to this little slice of Appalachia.
One summer afternoon before I moved to Georgia in 2024, I remember waiting for a shuttle at a take-out on the French Broad River near Horseshoe and striking up a conversation with a fellow paddler who was also waiting for his shuttle. We bonded over our shared love of the area’s mountains and streams, and he asked me how I was feeling about my move. I told him, honestly, how sad I was to be leaving.
“You’ll be back,” he said. “There’s something special in this dirt. It brings people back, and with you, I can tell. You’re not done here.”
He was surer about my future than I was, and he happened to be correct.
This time, however, I’ve moved an hour north of Brevard to lovely Waynesville, and with a new homebase, I’ve found myself much closer to hikes outside of my old Brevard radius. I’m eager to do some exploring.
Pickens Nose
A few weeks ago, I met with a source in Franklin for an interview, and she recommended Pickens Nose — a short, roughly 1.5-mile out-and-back hike in the southern end of Nantahala National Forest. It was the perfect reintroduction to these mountains that I’ve sorely missed.
The trailhead is just up the mountain from the U.S. Forest Service’s Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. The USFS first established the laboratory in 1948, in what was then called the Coweeta Experimental Forest, to study rainfall, streamflow, climate and forest growth in the valley following intensive logging.
For the nearly eight decades, the site has been a center for research in the southeast. According to the Forest History Society, it is one of the oldest continuous environmental research studies in the world.
From the trailhead, located on Ball Creek Road between Reynolds Gap and Mooney Gap close to the Georgia border, hikers can enjoy a short, roughly 0.5-mile stretch of uphill trail before reaching the ridgeline, where the trail flattens out until the rocky outcropping that is Pickens Nose.
Rhododendron tunnels, mountain laurel thickets, black-eyed Susan blooms and goldenrod line the trail, making it a perfect late-summer destination for those looking for a low-effort, high-reward trail.
I set out for my hike on an a recent early Tuesday evening and was delighted to find mine was the only car in the parking lot.
I spent close to 40 minutes at the summit enjoying the views, taking pictures and baking in the sun like a lizard with the mountain all to myself. On the summit, hikers have panoramic views depending on the vantage point of the North Georgia and southwestern North Carolina mountains.
Due to the trail being what I call low-effort, high-reward, I’d recommend choosing non-peak hiking hours to avoid the inevitable crowds that come with trails of this nature. My favorite view was the southwestern vantage point of the 5,050 ft. Ridgepole Mountain, with Coosa Bald, Little Bald and Courthouse Bald to the north.
Hundreds of pollinators buzzed from plant to plant around me filling the air with a pleasant hum and a little company while I relaxed.
This time of year, I always find it remarkable how green the forests become, especially after the rainfall we’ve seen the past several weeks. From the shrubby brush to the large, leafy canopy of mountain magnolias, tulip poplars and oaks, in the direct sunlight, the vibrancy of the plants almost looks neon to the eye.
Perhaps my favorite part of the view from Pickens Nose was just how many layers of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretched before me. I counted 11 ridgelines in total, one behind another, from the top of Mr. Pickens itself.
The hike back to the car is all downhill and fast, making this a great candidate for evening sunset hikes. The western exposure also provides an excellent vantage point to watch dusk settle in.
As always, be prepared when you venture out into the woods. Nantahala National Forest is remote, and cell service is spotty at best.
Carrying “The 10 Essentials” — appropriate footwear, a physical map and compass in addition to your phone, sufficient water, food, rain gear, safety items like a whistle and fire starting materials, a first aid kit, a knife or multi-tool, sun protection and an emergency shelter — is always a good rule of thumb to make sure you are prepared for a comfortable, safe trip. Even on a short trail, emergencies can happen at any time.
And always, always remember to leave no trace.