Mullinax Trail Map

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

Mullinax Trail Map

Route map of the Mullinax Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Mullinax/South Mills River Trail Junction -- 2,520'

About 3/4-mile from the Turkey Pen Trailhead, via the South Mills River Trail, is the lower terminus of the Mullinax Trail. As you can see here it begins with a steep initial climb (right) up into the rhododendron...

Mullinax/South Mills River Trail Junction -- 2,520'

The Mullinax Trail as it departs its lower terminus, at its junction with the South Mills River Trail...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,550'

The Mullinax Trail immediately starts a moderate climb of the ridge. A climb that really doesn't let up its entire length...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,580'

Now well above the valley floor there are some nice (seasonal) views through the trees, of the neighboring ridge to the south...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,610'

Continuing to carve upward through the rhodo...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,640'

After a few tenths of a mile the Mullinax flattens out a bit, as it cuts along the side of the ridge for a brief time...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,680'

A springtime look down the adjacent hillside...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,720'

A half mile from the South Mills River Trail the Mullinax makes this hard right turn, up a particularly wide and eroded gully...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,750'

The trail begins to climb moderately again...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,780'

Club moss carpets sections of the forest floor along this stretch...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,830'

Climbing through a stately grove of hardwoods...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,850'

Reaching the head of the shallow valley it has been climbing, the trail now begins its final climb to the crest f the ridge via a series of short switchbacks...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,900'

Looking down at the head of the valley as the trail switches back above it...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,940'

Switching back up to the crest of the ridge...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,960'

Nearing the top of the ridge laurel thickets now dominate the surroundings...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,980'

For the first time the path now begins a descent, towards its upper terminus at its junction with the Squirrel Gap Trail...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,920'

A few tall pines start to dominate the high canopy...

Mullinax Trail -- 2,880'

The final few feet of the Mullinax descends through this cool, almost eerie grove of laurel...

Mullinax/Squirrel Gap Trail Junction -- 2,860'

The Mullinax Trail as it arrives at its upper terminus, where it meets the Squirrel Gap Trail. The Squirrel Gap Trail is seen curving by R-L in this shot...

Mullinax/Squirrel Gap Trail Junction -- 2,860'

The upper terminus of the Mullinax Trail, seen here emerging from the laurel along the Squirrel Gap Trail.