Barnett Branch Trail Map

"Uphill Both Ways"

This is a trail of remarkable variety. The north end connects with the MST/Buck Springs Trail. Trail is moderately steep between there and its crossing of Yellow Gap Road. There are a pair of nice waterfalls along this stretch as well, suitable for even small children. The central portion of the trail crosses the huge high-elevation bog at the heart of the Pink Beds, partially via a long boardwalk. The southern section of the trail, after a brief dog-leg east along the Pink Beds Loop, climbs to the crest of Soapstone Ridge at its junction with the Black Mountain Trail. This is by far the lesser visited portion of the trail with the section from the Pink Beds up to the Barnett Branch Waterfalls being the busiest.

GPS Coordinates: 35.34599, -82.76422 (Black Mountain Trail Junction)

GPS Coordinates: 35.36881, -82.76962 (Yellow Gap Road Crossing/Trailhead)

GPS Coordinates: 35.37397, -82.77358 (Mountains-to-Sea Trail Junction)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Northbound

Highlights: High Elevation Bog, Wildflowers, Waterfalls

Length (one-way): 3.9 miles

Petzoldt Rating: 5.50

Difficulty: MODERATE

Total Elevation Gain: 800'

Elevation Gain/Mile: 205'/mile

Min. Elevation: 3,180'

Max. Elevation: 3,900'

Blaze Color: BLUE

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Barnett Branch-Buck Spring Loop

Pink Beds - East Loop

Pink Beds Loop

Rich Mountain-Pink Beds Loop

Soapstone Ridge Loop

Connecting Trails:

Black Mountain Trail (#127)

Mountains-to-Sea Trail (#104)

Pink Beds Loop Trail (#118)

Barnett Branch Trail (#618)

Barnett Branch Trail Map
Route map of the Barnett Branch Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Barnett Branch Trail Map
Route map of the Barnett Branch Trail tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Barnett Branch/Black Mountain Trail Junction -- 3,900'
The south end of the Barnett Branch Trail where it intersects the Black Mountain Trail atop the Soapstone Ridge...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,880'
At first the Barnett Branch Trail doesn't seem all that interested in leaving the ridge top. That doesn't last long, however...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,800'
Soon, through a series of moderately steep and rocky switchbacks, the trail gets serious about leaving the ridge...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,700'
The trail curves its way down from the ridge through the open woods...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,660'
Switching back now the trail heads towards a high crossing of an unnamed tributary of the South Fork Mills River...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,640'
Crossing the aforementioned unnamed tributary of the South Fork Mills River...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,650'
Suddenly, the trails surroundings press in much closer...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,650'
Breaking out into open forest again, now underlain by young pines...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,680'
...and now into the laurels...this trail is nothing if not full of woodland variety...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,680'
At this point the trail begins a short traverse of a particularly steep section of the ridge. The steep terrain and relatively thin tree cover provide some nice (winter only) views. Below the Pink Beds area can be seen with the high Pisgah Ridge rising beyond...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,680'
At this point the trail begins a short traverse of a particularly steep section of the ridge. The steep terrain and relatively thin tree cover provide some nice (winter only) views. Below the Pink Beds area can be seen with the high Pisgah Ridge rising beyond...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,650'
The views quickly close off once again, however...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,620'
The trail now briefly cuts north along the crest of a low ridge...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,580'
Through the trees this quick glimpse of Pilot Rock can be seen to the northeast...in the winter only of course...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,520'
Just before making its final drop off the ridge the trail passes through this pretty grove of young pines...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,460'
Switching back to make the final descent off the ridge into the Pink Beds...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,400'
The surroundings open up and flatten out...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,400'
Looking back up the ridge the trail just descended...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,350'
You can tell the trail is getting closer to wet ground as thick laurel and rhodo hedges begin to appear ahead...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,320'
Massive white pines begin to tower overhead...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,280'
Every so often the trail passes a massive white pine trunk breaking upward through the thick rhododendron...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,300'
Tall white pines now dominate the canopy far above...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,280'
The increase in the number of pines surrounding the trail heralds its arrival into the Pink Beds...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,250'
The trail just before it meets with the south side of the Pink Beds Loop...
Barnett Branch/Pink Beds Loop Trail Southeast Trail Junction -- 3,200'
Arriving at the Pink Beds Loop the Barnett Branch Trail (right) now joins with the former to coincide for a short distance (out of frame, behind, in this shot)...
Barnett Branch/Pink Beds Loop Trail Southeast Trail Junction -- 3,200'
Arriving at the Pink Beds Loop the Barnett Branch Trail (behind, out of frame) now joins with the former to coincide for a short distance (straight ahead)...
Barnett Branch/Pink Beds Loop Trail Southwest Trail Junction -- 3,180'
Within a hundred yards the Barnett Branch once again splits from the Pink Beds Loop, breaking north (right) onto a long boardwalk...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,180'
The Barnett Branch Trail heads out into the marshy area at the heart of the Pink Beds via this long boardwalk...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,180'
The high-elevation bog at the heart of the Pink Beds has a vaguely northern feel to it with its scattering of pines...
South Fork Mills River -- 3,180'
Looking up the South Fork Mills River from the boardwalk...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,180'
Looking back from the north end of the boardwalk...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,190'
A quick reminder which trail this is...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,200'
Beyond the boardwalk the trail rises briefly to higher ground...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,220'
Here in the heart of the valley pines are the dominant tree species due to the very wet conditions...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,220'
Dipping back down the laurels and rhododendron once again fill in...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,210'
Some of the pines around here are truly massive...you wouldn't want to be caught beneath some of them when they shed their dead branches...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,210'
Passing more massive pines...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,200'
A handy little footbridge takes the trail across a small tributary just before reaching the junction with the north side of the Pink Beds Loop...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,200'
Beneath sprawling rhodo arms...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,210'
The Pink Beds Loop reappears ahead...
Barnett Branch/Pink Beds Loop Trail North Junction -- 3,210'
The northern portion of the Pink Beds Loop crosses the Barnett Branch Trail left to right here while straight ahead, the BBT continues towards Yellow Gap Road another 0.5-mile away...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,220'
Heading north from the Pink Beds Loop through a tunnel of laurel...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,230'
The trail is quite a bit narrower in places along this stretch...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,240'
Numerous depressions along this stretch can quickly become small ponds after a good rain...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,250'
A trailside forest scene...
Barnett Branch Trail -- 3,260'
The grade gradually increasesas the trail approaches Yellow Gap Road from the south. It never gets steep enough to become strenuous, however...