World's Edge - No , Really

Sometimes my work takes me to some interesting places. It ranges from the side of the interstate watching cars whiz by at 80 MPH to pastoral settings where hardly another soul is seen.

I needed to check out a location in the western part of the state, so I did some research [Googling] and decided to head toward a place called World's Edge. Exciting, right?

As we made our way up the mountain, it was clear there was not much happening at the edge of the world. Small homesteads mixed with large hillside pastures indicative of western NC rural community life. We came to the summit of the road and found - a dead end. An old service road was gated and the other road was a private driveway.

"I guess we just...park?"

After a brief stretch out from the long car ride, I grabbed a few reference books and we headed down the service road. A short walk led us to a view I had not anticipated.

Wow.

We proceeded down the trail, popping over to the rock outcrops that dotted the cliff. Many times I looked straight down into the valley. It is not a place for unruly children or pets.

The weather was cool, and a steady breeze made for a lovely end of May day. I was impressed with myself and my googling prowess. Word of caution: the trail does go straight down from the trailhead, and it's not marked from what I could tell. Be sure you have a trail map and pay attention to your moves.

Indian Pipes being cute

Almost stepped on this lil' buggar

The day wasn't over yet. We made our way back to the car and took off to grab some lunch. Subs packed gently in the backseat, we meandered up to the Pink Beds Loop Trail (USFS Trail # 118) in Pisgah. There are two trailheads- I had chosen to use the Cruso Rd (NC 276) lot. All I needed to check was the bog area in the floodplain. The parking lot was packed when we first showed up. The day was still gorgeous, but leaning toward a rain shower. With the windows down we could hear dozens of children running and screaming in the picnic area. We decided to go back down the road and eat our lunch along one of the pull offs. After the break, we headed back up.

The bus loads of children had left when we returned. There were still many cars in the lot, and we found where the drivers and passengers of those had set up their tents. I counted 16 tents before we ducked out of sight down the trail to follow the orange blazes.

The clouds were darkening, but it never rained on us on trail. Sometimes the universe wants you to have a good time. We didn't stay very long, the wetlands are less than a mile from the trailhead. The section of the trail where the headwaters of the South Fork of the Mills River has room to flow slowly over the landscape is ripe with beaver activity. This combination leads to a great place to see mountain bog species. And the fact that it is settled right in the Pisgah National Forest means the waters that run through it are clearer than crystal. The relatively flat trail is a quick jaunt (around 5 miles if you do the entire loop). We returned to the car and headed out, back to Raleigh. This 16 hour day was one I didn't mind working.

Side note: to make this a shorter hike, take Barnett's Branch trail which bisects the loop.

Pink Beds Loop near the trailhead

Boardwalks along the bog make for easy walking

Glamp It Up Under Mt. Mitchell

This beautiful waterfall along a UT to South Toe River

When I first thought about boondocking, I had this image of the kind of serene, tranquil lakeside camp site you would see in an Instagram post. Woolrich blanket covered logs, hand-woven hammocks strung up between towering pines, a roaring fire surrounded by people and a few musical instruments. I know this is not what real life is like, but it was so romantic to think about the possibilities I had to take the chance.

Our first trip was to a site down South Toe River road, in the shadow of Mt. Mitchell. I had done enough research to know where the best sites were, and I even called the Forest Service office to confirm the open container rules in the sites. However, we didn't get to leave our house until late afternoon. Our ETA: 8:30 PM. No worries, right?

We came in from the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and headed down the road in the dark. The first few sites were taken, but a 3rd secluded site was empty. It wasn't near the river, so we noted it in our brains and drove farther down the mountain.

We came upon the motherload of campsites. Huge expanses of flat ground with ample parking interspersed with smaller, more private sites. Most had water access, which is why I had packed the fishing poles and updated our licenses. Alas, it was not to be. Every site had been taken, all the way to the Black River Campground. We slowly and sadly made our way back to the only site left: the one we passed on the way in that had no water access.

We made the best of it. We loved how secluded the site was, tucked away all by itself for at least a half mile in either direction. Once we pitched the tent and made dinner, we turned off all the lights and were treated to the most beautiful firefly show I have ever seen. The rushing water provided the soundtrack to a very relaxing evening.

The next day we lazed about the campsite and read. I walked up to the bridge closest to us and took a few photos of the stream pouring over the boulders. Naps happened. And more exploring. I noticed what seemed to be a trail to the right of the bridge, but there was no trailhead sign and I saw no blazes up the hill. I've now learned this is actually a trail, but I'm certain it is not regularly maintained.

After another night of the dance of the fireflies, we curled up in the tent and read until we fell asleep. We were slow to get out the next morning, not wanting to leave our quiet nook on the mountainside. We packed up the truck and headed out the way we had entered, noting on our map where the primo campsites were located.