Rock Castle Gorge Trail

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06-24-2007, 15:10
NCPatrick

Rock Castle Gorge Trail

My scheduled hike through Uwharrie got postponed, so I did a quick solo hike overnight this weekend on the Rock Castle Gorge Trail, starting at the Rocky Knob Visitor Center, milepost 169 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Backcountry camping was by permit only, and only at an old CCC complex (Civilian Conservation Corps, who built the Parkway) at around the halfway point of the loop trail.

The trail was fairly strenuous at times, both down into the Gorge and back out again. I only got lost once. I met some great folks at camp (who I met when they came over to check out the hammock) and shared a fun campfire with the other folks camping there (3 other people, 2 dogs). The Ranger there thought the hammock was pretty slick as well.

Pictures of my trip are here.
06-24-2007, 15:21
headchange4u

Nice pics. That looks like a beautiful area for a hike.
06-24-2007, 15:24
NCPatrick

It really was! I had a blast.
06-24-2007, 15:35
Hooch

Great pics, Patrick, glad you had a good time. My overnighter at RRG was canceled by fires in the area, so I missed out totally. Oh well. I may shoot for an overnighter somewhere in the next couple weeks, maybe a short trip somewhere that I can take Short Stuff on with me as well.
06-24-2007, 15:40
NCPatrick

Yeah, I know what you mean. Sorry your RRG trip didn't work out.

I was determined to go somewhere this weekend, and came up with this overnighter as "plan C". It was definetely an A+ location though.
06-24-2007, 15:41
Hooch

You'll have to help me find this one, I'd like to give it a go sometime, myself. It looks like a beautiful hike. BTW, that skull was the last hiker that got lost on the trail. :eek:
06-24-2007, 15:44
NCPatrick

He was a strange lookin' feller, that one. :D . Look for Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I also searched for the Rock Castle Gorge on Whiteblaze and found some good info on it since the AT was once routed through there.
06-24-2007, 16:07
Hooch

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

He was a strange lookin' feller, that one. :D . Look for Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I also searched for the Rock Castle Gorge on Whiteblaze and found some good info on it since the AT was once routed through there.

Patrick, I did a little quick reserch on it and found a fair amount of information at the roanoke.com website. I'm definitely going to have to put that one on my to do list (Which is fairly short right now, but growing slowly and steadily), probably near the top, since it's pretty close and would be a quick, challenging overnighter.
06-24-2007, 17:32
gstepclassical

Great pictures!!! That is my favorite area of the parkway. The next overlook from Rocky Knob is called the Saddle with beautiful views on both sides. I did the same hike many years ago and I remember it being very strenuous in spots.
06-24-2007, 20:45
slowhike

looks like a pleasant place to spend some time. how long did it take to drive there from W-S?
06-25-2007, 06:32
NCPatrick

Quote:

how long did it take to drive there from W-S?

Not too long, just a couple of hours. It really depends on whether you go through Cana or not. If you take 77 to 74 to Fancy Gap (to the Parkway) it's faster than trying to get through the bottleneck at Cana, but it's not as much fun. When I went, I drove through Cana, on the way home, I took 77/74.
06-25-2007, 06:33
NCPatrick

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstepclassical

I did the same hike many years ago and I remember it being very strenuous in spots.

I'd have to say that that part of it probably hasn't changed much. :)
06-25-2007, 09:55
peanuts

patrick, glad you has a great overnite! nice pictures too:)