Whiteside Mountain Latitude: 35 05.123 N Longitude: 083 07.933 W Elevation: 1,503m Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Location: Jackson County, NC Turn off of US Highway 64 (large US Forest Service signs will be present) onto Wildcat Ridge Road until sign for Whiteside Mountain parking is seen. A self paid 2 dollar fee is requested unless a pass is available. Trails: The Whiteside Mountain trail is a 2 mile loop that can be taken in both directions to reach the top. The trail to the left is a gentle slope up along the backside of the mountain until reaching the top, while the path to the right is much shorter it is a steep stair way to the top and much more strenuous.
Description: Whiteside Mountain has the highest cliffs in Eastern North America formed by granitic gneiss. The southern facing slopes have the exposed granite due to their steepness, wind, and drier conditions that prevents forest growth. The cliffs of Whiteside are also home to peregrine falcons. Northern Southern
Picture from the Air
Panthertown Valley 6,295 acres Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Location: There are several entrances to Panthertown Valley, but the easiest route is two miles east of Cashiers on US 64. Turn north onto Cedar Creek Road (SR 1120). Turn northeast on Nicholson Lane (SR 1121). Continue 3.4 miles on SR 1121 to a flat parking area at a gap where the National Forest boundary begins. Trails: There are many trails within the 6,295 acres of land within Panthertown Valley along with many waterfalls.
Lots of Trails
This is the route that the class took. Approximately 6 miles to reach Salt Rock, Granny Burl, and Little Green Mountain.
Salt Rock Latitude: 35 09.974 N Longitude: 083 02.165 W Elevation: 1,223m Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Location: Part of Panthertown Valley: Jackson County, NC. First outcrop along the trail. Description: This is the first rock outcrop that occurs along the trail. It is a small outcrop situated along the path and therefore is fairly disturbed by both human traffic and large amounts of runoff from the path.
Granny Burrell Outcrop Latitude: 35 09.777 N Longitude: 083 01.752 W Elevation: 1,134m Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Location: Part of Panthertown Valley: Jackson County, NC. Above Granny Burl falls on the right side bank. Description: This small rock outcrop is hidden above Granny Burl falls hidden by the bushes. For this reason it is in good condition.
Little Green Mountain Latitude: 35 09.670 N Longitude: 083 00.852 W Elevation: 1,228m Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Location: Part of Panthertown Valley: Jackson County, NC. Above Granny Burl falls on the right side bank. Description: A large part of this mountain s sides are covered with rock outcrops. There are varying degrees of maintenance among the outcrops from poor to good health.
Picture from the top of Little Green Mountain
Table Rock Mountain Latitude: 35 03.136 N Longitude: 082 42.041 W Elevation: 894m Land Owned by: South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (803) 734-1700 or (866) 224-9339 Location: Pickens County, SC Located off of Highway 11 Admission fee $2 age 16+; $1.25 SC Seniors; age 15 and younger free Trails: There are many trails, but the one to get to the top of Table Rock mountain is a very strenuous all uphill climb for several miles. Bring water and a Sherpa. Description: One of the tallest mountains located fully inside of South Carolina, Table Rock State Park also includes the tallest: Pinnacle Mtn. The park contains campsites and a lake for swimming.
Very strenuous hike uphill almost the entire way to the top.
Picture taken from the reservoir of the backside of Table Rock Mountain.
Stone Mountain Latitude: 35 03.136 N Longitude: 082 42.041 W Elevation: 507m Land Owned by: Stone Mountain Park 770.498.5690 or 800.401.2407 Location: Stone Mountain, GA Located off of Highway 78 Admission fee of $8 for vehicles with less than 15 passengers. Trails: There are many trails around stone mountain park, but only one goes to the top which is an all uphill, yet relatively short hike. There is also a gondola ride to the top: round Trip: $9.00 Adult & $7.00 Child; One-Way: $5.50 Description: Stone mountain is the second largest monadnock in the world. It also has the largest bas-relief in the world consisting of: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. There are many other attractions: http://www.stonemountainpark.com/
The trail is all uphill, but relatively short: around 1mile.
Largest bas-relief in the world.
Stone Mountain also hosts laser light shows during the summer.
Sunset Rock Latitude: 35 02.892 N Longitude: 083 11.192 W Elevation: 1,254m Land Owned by: Highlands-Casheirs Land Trust 828-526-1111 Location: Highlands, NC Located off of Horse Cove Road near the nature center. Trails: There is an easy trail up to the top of Sunset Rock, yet it can also be driven if you are lazy enough. Description: Sunset Rock is a very popular place in Highlands and due to that factor it is very highly disturbed. But there is an unkown secret place that only a select few know of.
Satulah Mountain Latitude: 35 02.167 N Longitude: 083 11.542 W Elevation: 1,372m Land Owned by: Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust 828-526-1111 Location: Highlands, NC From Highway 28, go up Satulah onto Warley Road and at the end there is a parking area. Trails: The trails are easy and there is one main with several short branching paths. Description: Satulah mountain is less traveled than Sunset Rock and therefore in better condition.
Big Rock Mountain (side outcrop) Latitude: 34 57.261 N Longitude: 082 47.577 W Elevation: 415m Land Owned by: Crescent Resources (soon to be The Nature Conservancy hopefully) Kristen Austin (southern blue ridge project director): 864-233-4988 Location: Pickens County, SC Located north of the intersection of Nine Times Road and E Preston McDaniel Road. Trails: The Trail to the side outcrop is currently one underneath major overhead transmission lines that contains many blackberry bushes that can be difficult to get through. Description: Very well maintained outcrop only known to a few. It currently is on Duke Power s land, but hopefully will be bought by The Nature Conservancy later this year.
Big Rock Mountain side outcrop can be reached by hiking through thick blackberry bushes underneath power lines.
Cedar Mountain Latitude: 34 57.261 N Longitude: 082 47.577 W Elevation: 440m Land Owned by: The Nature Conservancy Kristen Austin (southern blue ridge project director): 864-233-4988 Location: Pickens County, SC Located south of the intersection of Nine Times Road and E Preston McDaniel Road. Trails: The Trail to the outcrop is short yet steep that will take about 30minutes to reach the top Description: Very well maintained outcrop just recently bought by The Nature Conservancy. It has a large variety of plants not seen at outcrops near highlands such as yucca and prickly pear.
Sagee Mountain Latitude: 35 02.899 N Longitude: 083 09.605 W Elevation: 1,019m Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Carolyn McCall: 878-526-3653 or 878-526-3308 Location: Highlands, NC Take Horse Cove Road out of Highlands until you reach 3986 Horse Cove Road the drive should be on the left. Trails: The trail is easy and with the capability to drive it makes it even shorter. Description: The land of Sagee Mountain is owned by the US Forest Service, but is surrounded by private property. To legally get to the trail leading up to the outcrop one must call the landowner (Carolyn McCall). This site is very well maintained.
Other fun things to see on Sagee.
Scaly Mountain Latitude: 35 02.165 N Longitude: 083 17.077 W Elevation: 3,726m Land Owned by: US Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District 828-524-6441 Location: Highlands, NC Take Highway 106 then turn onto Turtle Pond Road, and then onto Hickory Nut Road. Trails: The trail is easy approximately 2.5 miles round trip. Description: Very small amount of rock outcrops on this mountain.
Whiteside Mountain: http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/whiteside.pdf http://www.highlandhiker.com/whiteside_mountain.html Panthertown Valley: http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/panther1.htm http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/nantahala/nantahala/panthertown.html Table Rock Mountain: http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/350.aspx Stone Mountain: http://www.stonemountainpark.com/ Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust: http://www.hicashlt.org/ The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/