Thrift Cove Trail Map

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

Thrift Cove Trail Map

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

Thrift Cove/Black Mountain Trail Upper Junction -- 2,830'

Just over a mile above the lower junction of the Black Mountain and Thrift Cove Trails is their upper junction. In this album we'll follow the Thrift Cove Trail downhill from here...

Thrift Cove/Black Mountain Trail Upper Junction -- 2,830'

The Thrift Cove Trail as it departs from its upper junction/terminus with the Black Mountain Trail...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,840'

Heading towards the north end of the Thrift Cove Trail there is a bit of uphill walking to do but not much...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,860'

As the trail approaches the head of Thrift Cove it passes a large grassy clearing on the right...it's entirely possible this was an old farmstead at one time...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,880'

As you can see the grade quickly flattens out...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,900'

Looking across the upper end of Thrift Cove...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,900'

At this point the trail reaches its northern limit, and now swings around to begin heading back down the opposite side of the valley...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,890'

Tall pines tower above as the trail turns back south...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,900'

A solitary rhododendron sits surrounded by a carpet of club moss...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,890'

The understory here is populated by a healthy scattering of young pines...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,880'

The trail south down Thrift Cove follows a much more meandering route, as it weaves in and out of numerous small folds in the side of the ridge...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,880'

Climbing... ever so slightly...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,890'

In this tall grove of pines the trail reaches its high point (elevation-wise)...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,850'

It's all downhill from here...albeit very slowly at first...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,800'

Curving through a grove of very young pines...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,750'

Conifers everywhere...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,700'

The trail passing a large clearing on the crest of the ridge...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,600'

The wide smooth trail provides some easy walking...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,500'

This is one of those easy trails in Pisgah that allow you to appreciate the subtle beauty of your surroundings...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,400'

The trail as it nears Grassy Road Trail from the north...

Thrift Cove/Grassy Road Trail Junction -- 2,340'

Arriving at the junction with Forest Road 5061A, which doubles as the Grassy Road Trail...

Thrift Cove/Grassy Road Trail Junction -- 2,340'

Looking back north, the Grassy Road Trail is on the right while the Thrift Cove Trail is on the left...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,340'

The trail now takes on a more road-like nature...

Thrift Cove/Starens Branch Trail Junction -- 2,340'

Within a couple minutes of passing the Grassy Road Trail the path now passes the marked-yet-unofficial Starens Branch Trail...this shot looks back at the junction, with the Starens Branch on the right and the Thrift Cove Trail on the left...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,300'

The Thrift Cove Trail as it prepares to makes its descent off the south end of the ridge...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,270'

Now curving back to the west and then north...

Thrift Cove Trail -- 2,240'

The Thrift Cove Trail as it arrives at its lower junction with the Black Mountain Trail...

Thrift Cove/Black Mountain Trail Lower Junction -- 2,210'

The lower terminus of the Thrift Cove Trail is here, at its lower junction with the Black Mountain Trail...this spot is only 1/10-mile north of US-276 via the BMT...

Thrift Cove/Black Mountain Trail Lower Junction -- 2,210'

The lower terminus of the Thrift Cove Trail (right) is here, at its lower junction with the Black Mountain Trail...this spot is only 1/10-mile north of US-276 via the BMT.