Shining Creek Trail (#363)
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Route map of the Shining Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Shining Creek Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Shining Creek Trailhead (US-276) -- 3,400'
The Shining Creek Trailhead is located off U.S. 276 just north of where it crosses the East Fork Pigeon River (three miles north of the Blue Ridge Parkway)...
Shining Creek Trailhead (US-276) -- 3,400'
A large kiosk just back from the parking area marks the lower terminus of the Shining Creek Trail...
The trail starts out passing a group of pretty campsites strung along the East Fork...
A very inauspicious start to what will become one of Pisgah's more difficult trails...
The trail is climbing steadily, but only gradually, by this point...a good grade to warm up on before the more strenuous climb ahead...
Bumping up against a tiny and aptly-named Dry Branch...
The grade begins to steepen...
Climbing away from Dry Branch the trail ascends through a couple steep switchbacks...
The moderate climb continues as the path nears its junction with the Old Butt Knob Trail...
Looking through the trees, across the East Fork Valley, towards the Pisgah Ridge...
Shining Creek/Old Butt Knob Trail Junction -- 3,680'
After a brief steep stretch the trail emerges from the rhododendron at its junction with the Old Butt Knob Trail, which arrives on the right...
The Grassy Cove Ridge rises through the trees ahead as the Old Butt Knob Trail is passed...
Directly across the valley is the rugged and trail-less Raven Cliff Ridge...
The trail now makes a brief descent towards Shining Rock Creek...this is also the last downhill grade the route will treat you to...
Nearing the creek under thick cover of rhododendron...
Pulling up alongside Shining Rock Creek itself. This wild stream will be a close companion for the remainder of the trails climb up the ridge...
The surroundings are already becoming markedly steeper and more rocky...
A bonus of gaining some elevation is escaping the tight rhododendron confines of the valley floor...
Though the trail is remarkably clear there is still the occasional fallen tree to hop over...this is a designated wilderness after all...
A rocky slope above...
A pretty and secluded creek-side campsite sits far below the trail here...
Shining Rock Creek is a beautiful companion to have alongside on this trail...
