Standing beneath the towering stands of American beech, red oak, hemlock, and red maple. The kings of the forest are the immense yellow poplars, some of which are over 120 feet tall and over 500 years old. Perhaps the best multi-day backpacking trail in the state. A tremendous backcountry experience. This rugged country is isolated, so if accidents or problems arise, help is far away.
High winds can become sinister and have literally blown hikers off the top of the mountain.
Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina 28768. A rare experience in near-vertical hiking. A strong nerve is required to tackle this beast, which is more like climbing than hiking. Views near Calloway Peak are tremendous. Winding dangerously close to cliff edges dropping hundreds of feet, this trail is the very definition of precarious.