Hiking Directions

Whiteside Mountain: Starting from the intersection of Highway 107 and 64 in Cashiers, drive
west on U.S. 64 in the direction of Highlands for 4.7 miles. Turn left on Whiteside Mountain Road at
the brown “Whiteside Mountain Trail” sign. Continue 1.1 miles to Wildcats Cliffs Country Club.

Rock Mountain Trail: Located at the High Hampton Inn and Country Club. From the intersection
of Highway 107 and 64 in Cashiers, drive south on Hwy. 107 for 1.8 miles, turn left into the
entrance of the High Hampton Inn.

Chimney Top Trail From the intersection of Highway 107 and 64 in Cashiers, drive south on Hwy.
107 for 1.8 miles, turn left into the entrance of the High Hampton Inn.

Lake Trail: From the intersection of Highway 107 and 64 in Cashiers, drive south on Hwy. 107 for
1.8 miles, turn left into the entrance of the High Hampton Inn.

Panthertown Valley: From the intersection of Highway 107 and 64 in Cashiers, drive east on U.S.
64 in the direction of Brevard, after 2 miles turn left on Cedar Creek Road and continue on
Breedlove Road. Drive 4 miles to Panthertown Valley entrance.

SCALY MOUNTAIN: Directions: From the corner of NC106 and Main St. in Highlands, take NC106
4 miles to Turtle Pond Rd. (SR1620). Turn right and go 0.2 miles to Broadway Gap. Take the left
fork onto Hickory Gap Rd. (SR1621) and go 1 mile to a USFS gate on the left. Park here and walk
through the gate. At 0.3 miles, a trail bears to the right. Follow this trail for 0.8 miles and then turn
right to reach the summit in 0.5 miles. This is the easiest route up Scaly Mt.

JONES KNOB/WHITEROCK MOUNTAIN: Directions: From the corner of 4th and Main in
Highlands, take US64/28 (toward Franklin) for 4.2 miles to Turtle Pond Rd. (SR1620). Turn left and
drive 1.1 miles to SR1678. Turn right and drive 1.4 miles to the top of a hill. Turn left on Jones Gap
Rd. (FR4522). Take this road 2 miles to the parking area. The trail leaves the parking area on the
right, goes on an access road and crosses a wildlife management field. At the end of the field, the
blue spur trail leads to Jones Knob. Views are to the left and down from the flat rock area at the
top. The right fork (yellow blazes) is the Bartram Trail and goes in 1.3 miles to Whiterock Gap with
views to the west. Continue for 0.7 miles to a blue-blazed spur trail to the left. This trail ascends to
a spectacular rock outcropping and view in 0.3 miles. (Seasonal closure of road may occur).

CHINQUAPIN MOUNTAIN: 3.2 miles (round trip). Directions: From the corner of NC106 and Main
St. in Highlands, take NC106 1.6 miles and look for USFS "Glen Falls Scenic Area" sign on leA.
Turn left and immediately turn right onto gravel road. Take that road 1 mile to the end at the Glen
Falls parking area. The trail begins to the right of the parking area. A moderate walk, the trail
crosses a stream many times. Then a mile-long series of switch backs leads to the top of
Chinquapin Mt.

SUNSET ROCK: Directions: From Highlands, travel east on Main St., past the shops and houses
to the Nature Center on your left. Park in the parking area on the right side of the street. Follow the
gravel road on the left side of the parking area. At the top, trails on the right and left go to
overlooks.

YELLOW MOUNTAIN/SHORTOFF MOUNTAIN: Directions: Take US64 east from the corner of
Fourth and Main St. in Highlands 2.7 miles and turn left onto Buck Creek Rd. Continue for 2.3 miles
on Buck Creek Rd. and look for the steps on the right. The trail very gradually climbs Cole
Mountain, where a look- out on the left offers views into the Buck Creek area. It continues on the
ridge line, and then a series of switchbacks takes you to the summit of Shortoff Mt. (5000'). From
there, the trail follows a ridge to Goat Knob and Yellow Mt. Gap. From the gap, one mile of
switchbacks brings you to the summit of Yellow Mt. (5127').

SLICK ROCK: Directions: From the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands take Horse Cove Rd.
4.3 miles to the end of the pavement. Take the right fork onto Bull Pen Rd. and drive 1 mile. On a
sharp left curve look for a pull- off and steep unmarked path on the right. If you pass a road which
intersects Bull Pen Rd. on the right, you've gone too far!

HURRAH RIDGE/WEST FORK TRAILS: Directions: From Highlands, take Highway 28 south
approximately 6 miles to Blue Valley Road. Turn right and follow this road, which turns to gravel, for
6 miles to its end. Take the trail to the right, without crossing the stream. The trail ascends 1 mile
and intersects with the Bartram Trail. Take the Bartram Trail to the left for 0.5 miles and then turn
left onto the Hurrah Ridge Trail. This trail descends for 0.6 miles, crosses the stream, and returns
to the starting point.

WHITESIDE MOUNTAIN: Directions: From the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands, follow
US64 east for 5.4 miles. Turn right at the second entrance to Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, which is
Whiteside Mt. Rd. (SR 1600). Follow this road for 1 mile to a parking area on the left. From the
parking area, take the steps to a rocky road that gradually ascends the back of the mountain.
Continue up the road to a clearing at the top. The trail continues to the right, goes along the cliffs,
and then returns to the bottom of the road, eventually descending some fairly steep stairs.

CLIFFSIDE LAKE RECREATION AREA: Directions: Take US64/28 from the corner of 4th and Main
in Highlands (toward Franklin) to USFS Cliffside Lake sign, 4.2 miles. Turn right and follow the road
to a parking area near the information shelter. A map there shows the location of different trails.

ELLICOTT'S ROCK / BAD CREEK TRAILS: Directions: Take Horse Cove Rd. 4.3 miles &om the
corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands to the end of the pavement. Take the right fork, Bull Pen
Rd. Ellicott's Rock trail starts at 6 miles; the Bad Creek trail starts at 10 miles. Both drop steeply
down &am opposite sides of the river near Ellicott's Rock (left bank looking down stream) and
continue down river.

FODDERSTACK POPLAR: Directions: From the corner of Fourth and Main St. in Highlands, take
Horse Cove Rd. 2.5 miles to a gravel road on the right, Rich Gap Rd. (SR1710). Drive on this road
about 50 yards to a pull-off parking area on the left. Look for the stairs across the street just
beyond the parking area.

WHITEWATER FALLS TRAIL: Directions: Take Highway 64 East to Cashiers, turn right onto
Highway 107 South for 9.3 miles. At Whitewater Falls sign, turn left to SC 130. Continue 2.3 miles to
stop sign and turn left onto Whitewater Rd. (SR1171). Drive 1.1 miles to Whitewater Falls sign and
turn right to enter parking area. An easy paved walk of 5-10 minutes leads to an overlook. To the
right, the trail descends very steeply to the river. There is another overlook about 100' down this
trail. To the left the trail continues to the river and fords the river. There are numerous places for
picnicking as well as shallow pools for wading and quick dips.

GLEN FALLS: Directions: From the corner of NC106 and Main St. in Highlands, take NC106 1.6
miles and look for USFS "Glen Falls Scenic Area" sign on left. Turn left and immediately turn right
onto a gravel road. Take that road 1 mile to the end at the Glen Falls parking area. The trail
continues in the same direction as the road. (The trail to the right goes to Chinquapin Mt.) The first
spur trail back to the right goes to the top of the first waterfall, and can easily be saved for the trip
back.

THE NARROWS: Directions: Take Horse Cove Rd. 4.3 miles from the corner of Fourth and Main St.
in Highlands to the end of the pavement. Turn left onto Whiteside Cove Rd. and drive 0.9 miles.
The trail is on a logging road on the right and descends 2 miles to The Narrows. You will pass a
trail to the right, which continues to Bull Pen Bridge on Horse Cove Rd. Be sure to return the way
you came.

CHATTOOGA LOOP TRAIL: Directions: Take Horse Cove Rd. 4.3 miles from the corner of Fourth
and Main St. in Highlands to the end of the pavement. Take the right fork (Bull Pen Rd.) and
continue 2.7 miles to a road on the left that goes steeply uphill to a parking area. Follow the logging
road to the left for about 1 mile to another trail which descends on the right. Follow this trail until it
inter- sects with the Chattooga River trail and turn right. The trail follows the river, passes sandy
beaches, and intersects with a trail to the right, which takes you back to a parking area and Bull
Pen Bridge to look down at the river. From the bridge, you can continue right on Bull Pen Rd. for
0.2 miles to the parking area, or return via the trail to the parking area.