Davidson River Pisgah

Davidson River is a major tributary of French Broad River in Transylvania County.  Much of the area surrounding the river is part of the Pisgah Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest.  For the purposes of this page, Davidson River comprises the National Forest lands bounded by US-64 to the south, Blue Ridge Parkway to the north, NC-215 to the west and US-276 to the east.  This area is home to a tremendous number of waterfalls and many miles of hiking trails, including the Art Loeb Trail.

Map:



Trails:


Art Loeb Trail (#146):


Art Loeb Trail is a 30.1-mile  that leads from the Davidson River Campground to near Cold Mountain in Shining Rock Wilderness.  About 17 miles of the trail are in the Davidson River Area.


Butter Gap Trail (#123):


Length: 3.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Blaze: Blue

Butter Gap Trail starts from Cat Gap Loop Trail near the confluence of Grogan and Cedar Rock Creek.  The trail leads through Picklesimer Fields and follows Grogan Creek upstream passing Grogan Creek Falls.  The trail ends at Butter Gap at the intersection with Art Loeb Trail.


Cemetery Loop Trail (#341):


Length: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Blaze: Yellow

Cemetery Loop Trail starts from the end of gated FR-475D and leads past the McCall Cemetery with graves dating from the 19th century.  The trail ends at Long Branch Trail.


Daniel Ridge Loop Trail (#105):


Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Blaze: Red
Trailhead GPS: 35.28462,-82.82874

Daniel Ridge Loop Trail starts from the parking on FR-475.  FR-5046 leads from the parking area across a bridge over Davidson River and the trail starts right after the bridge to the left.  It climbs up along Davidson River passing several scenic cascades.  After Daniel Ridge Creek, the trail begins following Right Fork upstream.  After a mile, Farlow Gap Trail splits to the left.  Daniel Ridge Loop goes right and passes through forest and wildlife clearings.  The trail then descends along Toms Spring Branch and ends back at FR-5046 next to Toms Spring Falls.  Turn right to return to the parking.


Estatoe Trail (#111):


Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Blaze: None

Estatoe starts from the Art Loeb Trailhead at Davidson River Campground and follows Davidson River downstream to US-64.


Long Branch Trail (#116):


Length: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Blaze: Orange

Long Branch Trail starts from a trailhead along FR-475 and leads along Long Branch.  Cemetery Loop Trail splits off to the left.  After following its namesake, the trail descends and crosses FR-5095 (Searcy Creek Road) and then follows Searcy Creek downstream, ending at Butter Gap Trail.


Waterfalls:


Catheys Creek Falls:


Catheys Creek Falls is along Catheys Creek Road near Kuykendall Group Campground.


Cedar Rock Falls:


Cedar Rock Falls is a 20-foot waterfall on its namesake creek near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.


Cedar Rock Upper Falls:


Upper Cedar Rock Falls is a small waterfall at a campsite just above the main falls.



Discovery Falls:


Discovery Falls is a 50-foot waterfall on a tributary of Log Hollow Branch.


Gemini Falls:


Gemini Falls is a nice 80-foot waterfall on a tributary of Laurel Fork.


Grogan Creek Falls:


Grogan Creek Falls is a scenic 20-foot waterfall near the fish hatchery.


Kuykendall Falls:


Kuykendall Falls is a remote waterfall that requires a long hike on a gated road.


Laurel Fork Falls:


Laurel Fork Falls is a scenic 50-foot waterfall but there is no trail and its difficult to reach.


Laurel Fork Lower Falls:


Lower Laurel Fork Falls is a 25-foot waterfall on its namesake.


Log Hollow Falls:


Log Hollow Falls is a scenic 30-foot waterfall just off a gated logging road.


Log Hollow Upper Falls:


Upper Log Hollow Falls is another waterfall just upstream of the main waterfall.


Logging Road Falls:


Logging Road Falls is on a tributary of Log Hollow Branch.


Long Branch Falls:


Long Branch Falls is a 25-foot waterfall accessed from a gated forest road.


Rockhouse Creek Lower Falls:


Lower Rockhouse Creek Falls is a roadside waterfall near the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.


Slick Rock Falls:


Slick Rock Falls is an easy to reach waterfall along FR-475B.


Slick Rock Lower Falls:


Lower Slick Rock Falls is just above the confluence with Rockhouse Creek.


Sliding Rock:


Sliding Rock is a natural waterslide along Looking Glass Creek.


Toms Spring Falls:


Toms Spring Falls, also called Jackson Falls or Daniel Ridge Falls, is located right along FR-5046 and can be accessed from Daniel Ridge Loop Trail.


Toms Spring Upper Falls:


There is an Upper Falls on Toms Spring Branch that can be accessed from FR-5046.


Twin Boulder Falls:


Twin Boulder Falls is a 60-foot waterfall on Right Fork of Davidson River.


Wildlife:


Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is common on the mountain slopes and typically flowers in late May to early June.


Flame azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum) produce brilliant orange-red flowers in late spring.


Fairy wand (Chamaelirium luteum) produces a long, white spike flower.


Red trillium (Trillium erectum) are also called Stinking Benjamin, because their carrion-scented flowers are pollinated by flies.


Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) have interesting flowers where the spathe or "pulpit" covers the spadix or "jack".


A snail crawling on rocks along Davidson River.


Blog Entries:




30-May-2021: Fowler Creek Falls

14-Jun-2020: Twin Boulder Falls



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