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...