Weekender near Murphy, NC?

[Clisbyclark]

My brother is a longtime hunter/fisherman/outdoorsy type but has never been backpacking. When it warms up some, I'd like to take him on a two nighter up near his home in Murphy. I'm not too concerned about strenuousness of the trail as long as it doesn't include an excessive amount of technical stuff. Can anyone offer any recommendations?

Thanks, as always!

[Caminante]

I'm sure there are tons of good options immediately near Murphy that I'm not familiar with. However, you're about an hour from Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, as well as the Bryson City side of the Smokies (Deep Creek, Lakeshore, etc.). Deep Creek might be a good jaunt if your brother likes fly fishing.

[skater]

Head West on 74 into Tennessee to catch the Benton MacKaye Trail where it crosses the Ocoee River. You can go south into the Cohutta Wilderness or north into Tennessee.

[Clisbyclark]

Head West on 74 into Tennessee to catch the Benton MacKaye Trail where it crosses the Ocoee River. You can go south into the Cohutta Wilderness or north into Tennessee.

Thanks, Caminante and Skater! Skater, that BMT hike sounds very interesting. I've done a few miles on it North of Long Creek Falls in GA. Just to get this straight, the BMT crosses 74 and there is parking on the side of the road? Is the trail fairly well maintained there? Do you know of any loop possibilities or would you recommend an out and back?

[skater]

Thanks, Caminante and Skater! Skater, that BMT hike sounds very interesting. I've done a few miles on it North of Long Creek Falls in GA. Just to get this straight, the BMT crosses 74 and there is parking on the side of the road? Is the trail fairly well maintained there? Do you know of any loop possibilities or would you recommend an out and back?

There's some parking on the south side of the river. I can't say what the condition if the trail is, other than to note the BMTA maintainers are very active, so I wouldn't be concerned about it. I don't know of any loops, but maybe someone familiar with the more-local trails can add some insight.

[gunner76]

And the AT is close by.

[DutchConch]

If you start at the Standing Indian campground, on your side of Franklin, you can make your own loop trail that uses the AT and connector trails from the campground that will get you back to your car. Easily get two nights in. I've done that section a couple of times and love it. Plus if you need to bail out early you can because of the number of connector trails.

[jasondodd]

Dodd creek and raven cliff falls just NW of Helena, GA was a great (short) hike in and out hang. My brother lives just outside of Murphy so he’s found a few local spots like that.




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