Deer Lake Lodge Trail (#664)
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Route map for the Deer Lake Lodge Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map for the Deer Lake Lodge Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Ledford Branch Trailhead -- 2,230'
The Ledford Branch Trailhead is the location of the western terminus of the Deer Lake Lodge Trail. It's located along Forest Service Road 479 at Bent Creek...
Ledford Branch Trailhead (Deer Lake Lodge Trail) -- 2,230'
At the lower end of the parking area is a privy and a large kiosk..the Deer Lake Lodge Trail enters the woods to the right...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,230'
Starting out from the west end of the Deer Lake Lodge Trail at the Ledford Branch Trailhead...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,240'
Into the laurel...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,250'
From the Ledford Branch Trailhead the path meanders through the woods on an easy uphill grade...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,260'
This is a wonderfully easy section of trail to walk...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,260'
Some pines start to mix in...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,270'
Walking through a pine cathedral...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,260'
The piney woods didn't last all that long, however...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,250'
A bit over a half-mile from the Ledford Branch Trailhead the trail reaches a T-junction at a power line cut. Luckily a handy arrow (seen in the next shot) keeps hikers headed in the right direction...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,250'
Following the arrow left at the T-junction the trail begins a rather unattractive journey along a power line cut...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,250'
Making a moderate but brief descent...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,200'
...and quickly climbing back up again...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,180'
Shortly before reaching the Wolf Branch Trail the path thankfully turns away from the power lines...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,160'
Emerging at the south end of the Wolf Branch Trail. The Wolf Branch is to the left in this shot while the Deer Lake Lodge Trail makes a hard right...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,160'
Looking back at the sharp turn the Deer Lake Lodge Trail makes at its junction with the Wolf Branch Trail...as seen if arriving via the latter...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,160'
The route becomes completely flat as the trail now nears the former location of Camp Deer Lake...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,170'
Trading dirt for asphalt...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,160'
Passing the green field marking the former site of Camp Deer Lake...
Just off trail are the remains of the old stone dam which once held back the waters of Wolf Branch, creating the former camp lake...
Deer Lake Lodge Trail -- 2,150'
Wolf Branch now meanders alongside the trail...
Deer Lake Lodge/Hardtimes Connector Trail Junction -- 2,150'
Passing the junction with the Hardtimes Connector Trail (right), while the Deer Lake Lodge Trail heads across the bridge on the left. There is only 2/10-mile to go from this point to the Rice Pinnacle Trailhead...