Slate Rock Creek Trail

Slate Rock Creek Trail
Pisgah National Forest
How long to get there from West Asheville: 1 hour
Trailhead at Slate Rock Creek
Distance: 5.2 miles to Yellow Gap Road, then car shuttle, or 2 mile hike along road to return to trailhead, or hike in reverse

Description:
Initially the trail has a gentle ascent next to Slate Rock Creek for about the first mile. It’s an easy trail to follow with many spots to take photos of the creek, or go down to the creek and get your feet wet. Several wonderful campsites are along here, and this area is very popular in the summer. The creek stays beside the trail most of the way offering cascades and small waterfalls all along the way.
For the second mile or so, the trail levels out and is surrounded by ridge tops on all sides as it wanders up the valley. Finally, the trail takes a sharp left turn across the creek. There’s also a trail here which continues straight, though it’s not on the forest service map. Be careful. If one were to take the trail going straight (not crossing the creek), it would lead them to the top of the ridge and an intersection with the Laurel Mountain Trail. As any loop this might create is far longer than a normal dayhiker might want to attempt, be sure to cross the creek when the Slate Rock Creek Trail takes that abrupt left back at the bottom. At this creek crossing, there is a double blue blaze on a tree on this side, small logs forming a precarious bridge, and a blue blaze on a tree on the opposite side.
The Slate Rock Creek Trail then climbs up to the intersection with Pilot Rock Loop Trail at about mile three. Pilot Rock itself is off to the left (south) and provides a great overview of the valley below. Families enjoy this area, but the drop-offs are steep, so be careful of children and pets. Watch for large birds (peregrine falcons, ravens, owls, vultures) flying through the valley.
Less than 2 miles will have you back down to the road, but it’s another 2 miles along that road back to the car (or one could shuttle). I prefer to simply turn around and go back the way I came, except I take the other side of that Pilot Rock Loop Trail, making this a 10.4 mile day hike. Besides, things always look different when seen from the other direction. I manage to take about as many photos on the way back out as I did on the way in.
The Loop goes back down to the creek, and passes through many rhododendron and mountain laurel sections. Once down, the loop heads northeast for mostly a gentle climb through the valley. Eventually the trail becomes rather steep for the final push back up to join with the Slate Rock Creek Trail.

Directions:
Take I-26 East to the Airport Exit, Hwy 191. Follow this to State Road 1206 (maybe 5 miles). Look for a brown state sign on the right indicating this is the turn for North Mills River Recreational Area. (Across the street on the left is the first gas station along Hwy 191.) Turn right and follow about five miles all the way through the North Mills River Recreational Area at the end of the pavement and continue straight until the road turns into gravel - this is Yellow Gap Road and still State Road 1206. Follow approximately 5.3 miles until reaching the Slate Rock Creek/Pilot Cove Trailhead. Limited parking.