Caney Fork Trail Area (NC)
*** This trail is closed until further notice. ***
Caney Fork is an are near Sylva, NC (around Ashville) that has a few really nice trails and an fantastic spot for camping on the top of the knob.
You can find a map of the Caney Fork trails here .
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We usually meet at the Sylva Walmart located at:
210 Walmart Plaza, Sylva, NC = N35* 21.720' x W83* 12.164' (just south of downtown Sylva on SR107).
To Caney Fork Road (from Walmart):
South on 107 for 8.5 miles. There is a small BP station on right. Caney Fork Rd. (SR1737) is on left. N35* 17.821 x W83* 8.714
To main trailhead:
Continue down twisty Caney Fork road for 10.5 miles until it dead ends. You'll see a trail to the right. About 50 feet up that trail you'll see another trail to the left. Turn left here (may require 3-point turn).
To the camp site at the top of the mountain:
Head down this trail for 1 mile. At this point you are forced to go through the creek you will have been driving along. On the other side of the creek you can turn right or left. Turn left and then right at about 30 feet or so. You should be at about N35* 21.186' x W83* 1.700'.
This is the main trail that will take you to the top of the mountain. The trail is just short of 2.5 miles but climbs 2075 feet. When you get near the top you will get to a 4 way intersection. The bald we normally stay at is forward, and another is to the left. This intersection is at: N35* 22.217' x W83* 2.402'. Continue forward for another 500 or so feet until the brush opens up and you see a steep hill climb on the left as well as an easier climb next to this one. Either trail will lead you to the top. The steep hill climb is usually undoable. I have made it a few times, but not lately. Once at the top of either of these two trails you have just another very short climb to the bald. N35* 22.443' x W83* 2.096'
From the beginning of the trailhead at the end of Caney Fork Rd. to the top of the bald should only take a single truck no more than 40 minutes. If you find yourself still on the trail after an hour.... You may be lost.
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