Pine Mountain Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

This is the former Appalachian Trail (AT) route over Pine Mountain. This blue blazed trail connects the Appalachian Trail at Rhododendron Gap back to itself at Pine Mountain allowing for long distance loop hikes.

The trail begins at Rhododendron Gap. There is a major trail junction here with the Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail (AT). The Pine Mountain Trail exits to the north of the clearing at the trail junction just to the right of the large boulder where there on a singletrack path. The trail enters a large catawba rhododendron heath and winds through it for 0.4 miles before emerging back onto the balds of Pine Mountain.

The trail then continues through mixed clearings and patches of spruce-fir forest and rhododendrons. At 1.1 miles a trail junction with the Lewis Fork Trail is reached. There are fine views to be seen to the south of this trail junction. The trail enters a mixed deciduous forest for the remainder of the hike until the trail junction with the Appalachian Trail (AT) is reached.

Catawba rhododendron. Wild ponies.