All of the Cold Mountain GM goodness

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildflowers

This loop incorporates forestry roads, steep trail climbs, a river crossing, great views, and just a general array of what the area has to offer. And, you are pretty much guaranteed not to see another person the whole time (I saw 1, within the first 2 miles, and none after that, on a beautiful spring saturday).

I have this loop starting at a parking area for the gamelands but it can be started, and finished, at a number of locations, including the most northern point, the river crossing, sunburst campground, and the parking areas granting access to the eastern half of the gamelands (including where I have this starting).

I will actually describe this from where I was hoping to start, the northernmost point (a truck was blocking access doing powerline work. Unusual blockage of access). This parking area is on the right just before crossing the bridge.

The route starts by going through the gate. After about .25 miles, you take a right, through another gate, and begin your climb. Use the app to track your progress as there are a few turn options. As long as you keep going uphill for the first 3 miles you won't go wrong (with the exception of one road that takes you out to a gazebo with a great view. Not the worst wrong turn).

The climb is a perfect 5k. You'll reach the ridgeline 3.1 miles (or so) in. The forestry road will become more gentle from this point. You'll follow this for about 5 miles before reaching the left that takes you down a trail to Sunburst Cutoff. This is easy to miss so keep an eye out around 8.5-9 miles in.

This trail is great and eventually reaches a creek cascading down from higher ground. You'll pop out onto FR 97B which will take you just south of Sunburst CG. When you hit the road, take a right, cross the bridge, and go toward the end of the gravel parking area. Drop down to the river and look closely at the other side for the trail for Fork Mountain. It is not marked and can be hard to see, but if you follow the countour of the edge of the river, you should be able to find it. The river is typically not that challenging to cross.

Once across, the trail is generally flat for about .5 miles before crossing the creek and beginning the toughest climb of this route. Climbing up to the ridgeline on the Fork Mountain trail is unrelenting for about 2.5-3 miles, but it is worth it. The singletrack is a delight, the forest is beautiful, and the views from the top are top-notch.

Once you reach a forestry road near the top, you are almost there. At some point, just after crossing the first forestry road, you'll reach another old one and it is obvious that the trail for Fork Mountain continues to the right. You'll take a left into the rhododendron. This is a trail maintained by the boy scout camp. I think they have forestry rights from the ridgeline down to the road. The trails are all marked. Go through the overgrown trail for about .3 miles. It'll open up and you'll see a National Forest sign to the right. Drop down that forestry road.

At this point, you'll need to pay attention to the map to make sure you don't miss the left turn to another forestry road (I did and the climb back up sucked). That connector road is wonderfully undermaintained with a great canopy. That will take you to a steeper road that drops down. Again, follow the map as there are some interconnecting forestry roads here and they become less frequently used.

At some point, you'll pop out where there has been some clear cutting going on. Not very scenic, but it won't last long. This is where the last climb commences. It is just a matter of climbing up the road to the ridge (~1.5 miles). There is an option to go off to the left on a more scenic forestry road that reconvenes with the road higher up. If I felt fresher, I would have gone that way. You can see the option I speak of on the map.

Once the ridgeline is obtained, you are only about 3.5 miles from the start. Take a right at the ridgeline and follow the forestry road around. This is one of the best places for mountain laurel I have found.

Watch for the turn to the left that splits from the FR. If you miss it you reach the same place but add some mileage.

When you hit the gravel, take a right and follow that back to the road. The parking area will be 0.5 miles downhill.