2023 HIGHLANDS NC EXPERIENCE GUIDE
BARTRAM TRAIL – OSAGE OVERLOOK
gins at the same place but ends at Whiteside Church on Whiteside Cove Road, so two vehicles are required. To get there: From Highlands, travel east on Main Street for 4.5 miles. Main Street will become Horse Cove Road. Look for its intersection with Bull Pen and Whiteside Cove roads. Turn right onto Bull Pen Road (#1178/#1180). Proceed for 5.4 miles to the Iron Bridge. The trailhead is on the left, just before the bridge.
with grills and a lake for swimming and fishing (with a N.C. fishing li- cense). A day-use fee is required, and picnic shelters must be reserved. Its Cliffside Loop Trail is an easy 0.75- mile walk around the lake. To get there: Follow U.S. 64 West for 4.5 miles, turn right at the Cliffside Lake sign and continue for 1.5 miles.
Named after the distinguished natu- ralist, Bartram Trail runs more than 100 miles from Oconee State Park in South Carolina through Georgia and North Carolina to the Great Smoky Mountains. This long-distance trail is marked with yellow blazes. The two- mile segment from the Osage Moun- tain trail head is a difficult hike, due to an elevation gain of 1,100 feet. The reward is views of Blue Valley and Tessentee Valley from the top of Scaly Mountain. To get there: From downtown High- lands take N.C. 106/ Dillard Road. Travel 5.5 miles to a paved overlook area and trail head to the left. Park on the same side as the overlook but access the northbound Bar- tram Trail to Scaly Mountain on the opposite side of the road via the stairs. Look for the sign reading “Bartram Trail to Hickory.” CHATTOOGA LOOP TRAIL & CHATTOOGA RIVER TRAIL TO WHITE- SIDE COVE Chattooga Loop Trail is almost two miles and begins to the left of the notable Iron Bridge. Moderate in difficulty, it is a great hike for the entire family. Chattooga River Trail – a 6.25- mile, one-way hike – be-
ELLICOTT’S ROCK & BAD CREEK TRAILS
CHINQUAPIN MOUNTAIN
This area boasts Ellicott’s Rock, an enormous boulder embedded in the Chattooga riverbank, bearing the letters “NC” as carved by sur- veyor Andrew Ellicott who thought this was the intersection of North Carolina, Georgia and South Caro- lina. (Spoiler Alert: It wasn’t. That’s Commissioner’s Rock, bearing the symbol NC/SC 1813.) Choose from two trails: Bad Creek Trail to Ellicott’s Rock is a moderate trail that stretch- es three miles, one way. Ellicott’s Rock Trail is 3.5 miles and more dif- ficult. Prepare for a good workout! To get there: From downtown High- lands, head northwest on Main Street, which will become Horse Cove Road. Turn onto Bull Pen Road and pass the Iron Bridge. Ellicott’s Rock trail starts at six miles; the Bad Creek trail starts at 10 miles. Both drop steeply down from opposite sides of the river near Ellicott’s Rock (on the left bank looking down stream) and continue down river.
The trail head for this 3.2-mile round trip is at the Glen Falls parking area near downtown Highlands. It is a moderate walk, and the trail crosses streams several times. A mile-long series of switchbacks leads to the top. To get there: Head west on U.S. 64 and turn left on N.C. 106. Drive 1.7 miles and look for the sign to Glen Falls Scenic Area on the left. Turn left, then immediately bear right onto Glen Falls Road. Travel on this gravel road for one mile to the park- ing area. CLIFFSIDE LAKE RECREATIONAL AREA This is a delightful plunge into na- ture’s glorious bounty! Enjoy several hiking trails – some of which lead to waterfalls – as well as picnic tables
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