This trip is an approximately 12 mile, three day, weekend backpacking trip. The trip will be in the Wilson Creek Area of the Pisgah National Forest north of Morganton on NC 181. Trails covered will include parts of the Mountain to Seas Trail, Raiders Camp Creek and Harper Creek. The trip is intended for scouts of varied experience in hiking and camping from novice on. Total distance under full pack will be approximately 6 miles with a 7 mile day hike. See trail map. Altitudes will range from 3000 to 1900 ft. Maximum elevation change is 700 ft in 0.5 miles, moderate grades with one short steep climbs. Temperatures may range from the 20's F. at night to the upper 80's. Most of the trail is shaded. There will be multiple stream crossings, weather permitting. Plan to hike in tennis shoes or something you don't mind having wet. Bring a separate pair of light shoes for camp and extra socks.
| Friday | 6:30 a.m. | Depart from Chapel of the Cross |
| 10:00 a.m. | Meet at the Wilson Creek Visitors Center. | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Move about a mile by car to trailhead on Brown Mountain Road | |
| 12:00 noon | Lunch at the junction of the Raider's Camp Creek trail and Harper Creek Trail Side trip to South Harper Creek Falls |
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| (evening) | Overnight at a campsite on Harper Creek. | |
| Saturday | Day hike the Harpers Creek Trail to South Harper Creek Falls and return by the Raiders Creek Trail, 6-7 hours, with many creek crossings. | |
| (evening) | Overnight in same location as Friday. | |
| Sunday | 1:00 p.m. | Return to cars; depart for Chapel Hill |
| 5:00 p.m. | Arrive in Chapel Hill, Chapel of the Cross |
Telephone contact may be tried; call 593-0290 (Mr. Filpus) or 740-4351 (Mr. Hock). Cell phone coverage is spotty. Leave a message.
See the troop's personal equipment list for details. Sneakers are recommended as foot gear; boots are all right, but there will be many creek crossings. The pack should contain sufficient material for a three day campout. Assume extremes of weather; i.e., pack clothes for 25oF to 85oF. Bring a separate pair of light shoes for camp and extra socks.
Food (except Friday lunch) and equipment will be coordinated at the troop meetings by patrol. Meals include a bag lunch for Friday, Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, a lunch for Saturday that requires minimum water; Persimmon Ridge has no reliable water, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and Sunday lunch at the cars.
Estimated travel time is three and a half hours from Chapel Hill.
I40, US 64, NC181, Brown Mountain Beach Road to Wilson Creek Visitor Center
Drivers will leave Chapel Hill Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. We will rendezvous at the Wilson Creek Visitor about 10 a.m.
There is not much parking at the trail head. One or two cars park on Brown Mountain Road at the trail head. Other cars are shuttled back to the Visitor Center and parked there, letting them know that we are leaving cars there.
Reliable water is available at camp and along most of the trail. Come with full canteens for lunch Saturday and the trail afterwards.
Pack a complete change of clothes, shoes, and a towel to leave in the car at the trail head.
The following book and maps were used in the preparation of this material and are relevant to the trip but are not required:
