Accessibility – Moderate
Height – 20′
Distance – 6.3 miles (out and back)
Beauty – 4
Photo rating – 5
Solitude – 5
GPS Info: LAT 35.67511 LONG -82.28518
Last Updated – 12-23-2024
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Where to park: Parking for this hike is at the Grey Beard Trailhead in Montreat. I don’t know how much this has changed since Helene or if the trailhead is currently accessible. The GPS of where I parked is 35.65952, -82.29617. Check the Montreat website for more information and trail updates. As of 12-13-2024, the Grey Beard Trail is closed.
The hike: This was what the hike involved when I completed it back in 2019 and 2020. I have no idea what the trail will look like after it’s repaired. The hike started by crossing a bridge over Flat Creek, and then paralleling the creek as the trail began to ascend. Half a mile into the hike, the Harry Bryan Trail joined in from the left. At 1.5 miles the trail will make a lefthand switchback and 0.8 miles later it will switchback to the right. Half a mile later, you will be even with the lefthand switchback, but about 200 feet higher up. If you ask me, 1.3 miles to climb 200 feet is a bit much, but it does make for some easy hiking. Three miles into the hike, the trail will make another hard lefthand switchback, but don’t take it. The waterfall is right at the apex of the turn. It didn’t have much water on my visit, meaning it was a lot of effort for a wet rock. I have been back when the water was up, and it was much better.
What this hike looks like in the future is anyone’s guess, and with the trail closed for the foreseeable future, it may be a while before I can get back this way.
