Big Rock Mountain - Nine Times Forest (2.8 miles; d=4.00)
Read MoreBig Rock Mountain Hike Route Map
My hike as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth... As this was an exploratory hike I ended up doing a rather unnecessary bushwhack on the ascent. I denoted the actual trail to the summit rocks in purple. I highly recommend sticking to the trail if you decide to visit...
Big Rock Mountain Hike Route Map
My hike as tracked by the Gaia GPS app... As this was an exploratory hike I ended up doing a rather unnecessary bushwhack on the ascent. I denoted the actual trail to the summit rocks in purple. I highly recommend sticking to the trail if you decide to visit...
Nine Times Preserve & Forest Trailhead -- 1,160'
The small parking area for the hike is located at the corner of Nine Times and Preston McDaniel Roads. The 'trailhead' is located directly across from it at the entrance to the old quarry...
Big Rock Mountain Trail -- 1,160'
Smile, you're on camera...don't mind the intimidating signs at the trailhead. Public access is permitted here just be on your best behavior so that doesn't change...
Big Rock Mountain Trail -- 1,180'
Within a few feet of starting out the road I was following arrives in the large open area seen here. Big Rock Mountain itself can be seen poking above the treeline to the right. I didn't have a map or I would have known that the trail begins by going up the hill in the center distance in this shot. Rather, I would be following the road to the left in the mistaken assumption the trail was off that way somewhere...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,200'
I convinced myself that a path seemed to ascend the bank here in the direction of the open ridge beneath the power lines. My short bushwhack thus commenced here...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,260'
Breaking out into the brush and brier filled manway beneath the power lines...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,360'
With a bit of elevation gained some nice views opened to the south...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,400'
I was desperately searching for some kind of a path but, as you can see, none was to be found. Thankfully my GPS was keeping me from getting too far off track...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,450'
Eventually I simply picked a promising spot to head to leave the open manway and climb the ridge through the woods. I was pleased to discover the understory was all but completely open making the bushwhack very easy...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,520'
Reaching the top of the ridge on a carpet of red fallen leaves...
South Ridge Bushwhack -- 1,600'
Following the ridge now in the general direction of the summit I soon came upon an old roadway. I took this as a good sign I was on the right track...
Big Rock Mountain Trail -- 1,600'
Soon after finding the road I discovered what I had up to this point been searching for...the summit path. This was a heartening discovery and I would be following it later on on the descent to see where I had originally went wrong in locating it...
Big Rock Mountain Trail -- 1,560'
On the trail now, following the ridge...
Big Rock Mountain Trail -- 1,550'
The going was remarkably flat...
Big Rock Mountain Trail-Summit Logging Road Split -- 1,560'
Arriving at a small opening beneath a grove of pines. The trail split here so I had to make a decision...
Big Rock Mountain Trail-Summit Logging Road Split -- 1,560'
This is the right split from the location in the previous photo. It didn't feel to me like it was heading in the right direction so I decided to skip it for now...
Tim Truemper
on November 16, 2018That is some kind of unusual and incredible boulder field on that hill. I have only seen anything remotely like that and that was Buzzards Roost next to the Pinnacle Peak of Peaks of Otter. A true find! Really liked the camera angles of the rocks and the vistas beyond.
Dave Kathy Weemhoff
on February 19, 2017Amazing views-- wouldn't have thought so by the looks of things at the beginning of your hike! Nice!