Flat Laurel Creek Trail Map

Route map of the Flat Laurel Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail Map

Route map of the Flat Laurel Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Flat Laurel Creek Trailhead @ NC-215 - 5,040'

The Flat Laurel Creek Trailhead is located at a small dirt parking area off NC-215 about 3/4-mile north of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The entrance to the parking area is seen here on the right...in winter don't attempt turning in without 4WD...

Flat Laurel Creek Trailhead @ NC-215 - 5,040'

The entrance to the parking area at the trailhead. In conditions like this you'll need 4WD to park here...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,020'

The trail as it sets out from its NC-215 trailhead...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,000'

Dropping a bit, the trail immediately makes a crossing of Bubbling Spring Branch...it's a rock hop at most times but, after a bit of rain, quickly becomes a ford...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,000'

The trail as it climbs from the far side of Bubbling Spring Branch...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,020'

Rhododendron press in from both sides, especially after a heavy snow...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,030'

Less than a quarter-mile in, the trail passes beneath this small unnamed cascade. At most times, however, it's barely more than a trickle...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,040'

Following tracks through the winter woods...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,050'

The trail as it passes an interesting line up of Yellow Birch...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,070'

Curving through a rocky drainage under a thick winter blanket...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,080'

Suddenly, about 3/4-mile in, the trail curves around this very out-of-place concrete bridge. It's just about all that remains of the old road which used to lead from here up to the Shining Rock Ridge...

Wildcat Falls - 5,080'

Wildcat Falls tumbles from the ridge above, in this shot from the concrete bridge. It's a pretty cascade, but one that's tricky to photograph as there's usually huge difference in contrast between the top and bottom of the falls...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,100'

Continuing on from Wildcat Falls...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,120'

As the trail curves around the side of the ridge Little Sam Knob (5,862') begins to appear ahead. The Flat Laurel Creek Trail will eventually make its way around to the far side of the peak...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,150'

Minus a two foot snow pack this is actually a fairly easy section of trail to hike...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,200'

What I've dubbed 'Heart Rock'...about a mile or so in...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,260'

Views now begin to open up across the valley behind. NC-215 can be seen below while 6,110' Mount Hardy rises above, covered in clouds...

Fork Ridge View - 5,280'

A little over 1.5-miles in the trail breaks into the open for its first major overlook...

Fork Ridge View - 5,280'

This sweeping panorama overlooks the upper portion of the West Fork Pigeon River Gorge to the massive Fork Ridge. Fork Ridge runs from Mount Hardy (6,110'), which is hidden in clouds on the left, to Green Knob (5,892') on the right...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,300'

Leaving the overlook, the easy grade continues...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,320'

The trail as it now begins to turn up the gorge of Flat Laurel Creek...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,350'

Turning up alongside the gorge of Flat Laurel Creek which runs between Sam Knob to the north and Little Sam Knob to the south...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,370'

An opening in the trees provides this incredible view of the south face of Sam Knob (6,050')...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,370'

This can be a wet stretch of trail after a heavy rain or snow...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,380'

Passing a pretty campsite along the creek...

Flat Laurel Creek - 5,380'

Looking across Flat Laurel Creek with Sam Knob (6,050') rising above the trees beyond...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,390'

Making a beeline up the valley...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,400'

The landscape of the upper Flat Laurel Creek Valley is one of mixed shrub-land...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,400'

This opening offers a nice view up the slopes of neighboring Little Sam Knob (5,862')...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,410'

Looking back along the flat, straight path with Sam Knob (6,050') rising on the right...

Flat Laurel Creek/Sam Knob Trail Junction - 5,420'

The Flat Laurel Creek Trail reaches its junction with the Sam Knob Trail here, right alongside Flat Laurel Creek. This spot is located about 2.3-miles above NC-215 or 1.5-miles below the parking area at the end of Black Balsam Road...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,420'

The Flat Laurel Creek Trail as it departs its junction with the Sam Knob Trail heading north/east...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,430'

Heading up the valley once again...at a very gradual incline...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,440'

Crossing one of a couple of small tributaries along this stretch of the trail...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,500'

Not all that long ago the route that the current trail follows was a forest service road open to vehicles. I've talked to a few old-timers in the area who remember fondly coming up here with their families to pick berries or hunt. I can understand their disappointment in how things have changed but personally appreciate no longer having cars up here...

Flat Laurel Creek/Little Sam Trail Junction - 5,550'

A half-mile or so above the Sam Knob Trail the Little Sam Trail splits south. The Little Sam is a convenient connector path with the nearby MST...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,580'

As it climbs the head of the valley, the trail starts to leave the forest behind and enters a landscape more dominated by high shrubs once again. This allows for some limited views of the surrounding peaks. Here, the open ridge below (hidden) Black Balsam Knob is seen...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,600'

A back reveals the trail is still being watched by the Sam's...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,660'

As the path swings around the head of the valley it crosses the uppermost waters of Flat Laurel Creek...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,580'

Always a sure sign autumn is not far away, huge clusters of berries can be seen hanging from the mountain ash bushes...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,700'

Nearly ever-present on this trail, Sam Knob (6,050') and Little Sam (5,862') are still keeping watch as it nears the Ivestor Gap Trailhead...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,780'

A closer look back on Little Sam (5,862'), with its split deciduous and spruce cap...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,800'

The Flat Laurel Creek Trail as it arrives at the Ivestor Gap Trailhead at the end of Black Balsam Road...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail - 5,800'

From alongside the trailhead you're treated to this final, fantastic overlook of the upper Flat Laurel Creek valley...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail @ Ivestor Gap Trailhead -- 5,800'

The trail as it leaves from the southern end of the parking area at the end of Black Balsam Road.