Sponsored

Exploring North Carolina

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
I know we have a North Carolina Roll Call thread but I’d like to focus on exploring different areas of North Carolina - whether through overlanding, wheeling, or general exploring.

Over the last several months, I’ve realized exploring and overlanding are more conducive to what my kiddos and I like to do. Don’t get me wrong - I love wheeling, but I‘ve realized its a little intense for my younger kiddos.

My goal for this thread is to consolidate hiking, overlanding, and general trails for exploring. I hope this will catch the interest of other Jeepers and we can develop a central location for all things exploration in North Carolina.
Sponsored

 
OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
Last week, I took the kiddos to Hanging Rock State Park and we hiked Moore’s Wall Loop. We hiked it counterclockwise - which I don’t recommend as the ascent is much steeper. Regardless, we made the 4.7 mile loop and had a blast doing it.

Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina E7B2591C-A370-4A39-A2B5-6542CE4B1EBA

Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina C20A0D61-C0DC-49AF-8505-7027E280E591

Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 18693BF5-7767-4751-8523-48ECE5B6DCE6


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 4E5B8989-1918-491B-931E-B919C7867792

Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 34AA20DD-4666-4852-A65B-69F655B75FCB
 
Last edited:

HoboJeep

Active Member
First Name
John
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
40
Reaction score
64
Location
NC
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLUR Sting Gray
The Linville Gorge and Wilson Creek Gorge areas are nice to explore.

Look up Old NC 105. Gravel/dirt road up from near the town of Nebo. Takes you up the western side of the Linville Gorge. Lots of hiking trails. Of course Linville Falls. Also takes you to Wiseman's view overlook where you can look for the Brown Mountain lights. Several trails/roads on the eastern side of the gorge too. Youtube explorer Venture 4WD (Chris Shontz) has been through there.

Brown Mountain Beech road above Morganton takes you along Wilson's Creek and through that gorge. Nice scenery and hiking trails. You can go find the ghost town of Mortimer, NC. Lot of history in that area. Several Forest Roads to explore also. We were up there last week.
 
OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
We spent the weekend in Marion, Burnsville, and the surrounding Pisgah National Forest. We found waterfalls, hiking trails, and forest roads to explore.

If anyone wants details of the roads or locations, just let me know.

Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 6A51EFD9-B874-4919-9689-E6C97C16745E


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 05E525C3-09A7-4599-B492-8D1FA060EE2C


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 41B0214B-F43C-4922-BDEA-CAD50FE47B74


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 394535A5-3383-4DF9-9AF7-DF9BF7651B8B

Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 73E086E6-9CB1-42EF-9076-8E9092CAF7B4


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina B85D2701-8662-4292-BCBE-9852A370DBF5


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina CD518575-B023-40E7-A003-26990480A8DE


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 3336474A-8E54-4071-AE03-2A8041553B10


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina FE2FA5B5-D4AF-45A6-8826-462C64B4CDA9


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 7F509B44-EB22-4850-A31C-7B70C720C2E2


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 84CE9A03-8B0B-42D3-B732-CA16CD074316


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 56CC9B34-3666-4C48-983D-448E19E15109


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 6CB5138F-089A-4E1E-83A3-CD5EC74DA3C6


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina D1F3F779-F697-4CA4-A4F2-723770A994C8


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina B642D0E4-695E-441D-9C35-FEF3CC507793


Jeep Wrangler JL Exploring North Carolina 3ABE83FE-4A74-4117-A681-A7D59E1DDDD9
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
The Linville Gorge and Wilson Creek Gorge areas are nice to explore.

Look up Old NC 105. Gravel/dirt road up from near the town of Nebo. Takes you up the western side of the Linville Gorge. Lots of hiking trails. Of course Linville Falls. Also takes you to Wiseman's view overlook where you can look for the Brown Mountain lights. Several trails/roads on the eastern side of the gorge too. Youtube explorer Venture 4WD (Chris Shontz) has been through there.

Brown Mountain Beech road above Morganton takes you along Wilson's Creek and through that gorge. Nice scenery and hiking trails. You can go find the ghost town of Mortimer, NC. Lot of history in that area. Several Forest Roads to explore also. We were up there last week.
The Linville Gorge area is on my short list of places to explore. Hopefully I can tackle some of it in the next month or so.
 

Sponsored

wibornz

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ted
Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Threads
157
Messages
9,796
Reaction score
49,900
Location
lansing, Mi.
Vehicle(s)
JL Unlimited Rubicon
Occupation
Retired from Corrections....I have stories.
I plan on visiting NC over labor day weekend. Going to visit my son in Fayetteville. While there, we are going to camp out on the beach at or somewhere along this location. You can drive your Jeep and camp right on the ocean here.

https://goo.gl/maps/k2j5nGBXzMvQVKpr6
 

Robnfl

Well-Known Member
First Name
Robert
Joined
Apr 11, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
131
Reaction score
134
Location
East Tennessee
Vehicle(s)
2021 JLUR 3.0 Diesel - Firecracker Red
Occupation
Retired USN
Following since I'm only about 1.5 hours away from West NC. And we like MTBing and camping over there.
 
OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
I plan on visiting NC over labor day weekend. Going to visit my son in Fayetteville. While there, we are going to camp out on the beach at or somewhere along this location. You can drive your Jeep and camp right on the ocean here.

https://goo.gl/maps/k2j5nGBXzMvQVKpr6
Definitely want to camp there. I would highly recommend making reservations for the ferry, otherwise it can be difficult to get a spot.
 
OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
Youtube explorer Venture 4WD (Chris Shontz) has been through there.
Chris is pretty much my inspiration for getting out and exploring. Having 3 kids (oldest being 10) makes it a little difficult to explore for an extended period of time because they lose interest and get restless. So, I’ve gotta plan my routes with them in mind. Just adds to the difficulty. Haha.
 

wibornz

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ted
Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Threads
157
Messages
9,796
Reaction score
49,900
Location
lansing, Mi.
Vehicle(s)
JL Unlimited Rubicon
Occupation
Retired from Corrections....I have stories.
Chris is pretty much my inspiration for getting out and exploring. Having 3 kids (oldest being 10) makes it a little difficult to explore for an extended period of time because they lose interest and get restless. So, I’ve gotta plan my routes with them in mind. Just adds to the difficulty. Haha.
Chris is my favorite Youtuber. My wife and I have watched every vid of his and we drink coffee on the weekend morning and watch his news vids when he drops them.
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
I realized I posted earlier stating “if anyone wants details of the roads or locations, message me” and that kind of defeats the spirit of the thread.

The tall waterfall we found is Toms Creek Falls off 221, north of Marion on Huskins Branch Road. Forest Service Road 469 is adjacent to the trail head. It’s a 2ish mile road with a couple small waterfalls. There are several spurs but they are all gated.

My favorite trail of the weekend was Pigeon Roost Trail off Pigeon Roost Road. There are a couple stream crossings, a small waterfall near the first crossing, and the trail follows the stream up into the forest. There are a ton photo ops along the way.
 

HoboJeep

Active Member
First Name
John
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
40
Reaction score
64
Location
NC
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLUR Sting Gray
I plan on visiting NC over labor day weekend. Going to visit my son in Fayetteville. While there, we are going to camp out on the beach at or somewhere along this location. You can drive your Jeep and camp right on the ocean here.

https://goo.gl/maps/k2j5nGBXzMvQVKpr6
You will really enjoy Cape Lookout. I haven't been in several years now but would love to get back out there. I second the motion on ferry reservations. Sometimes it's no problem and sometimes it is.

You can easily spend a week exploring the outer banks of NC. I also like the very northern section above Duck and Corolla. Pavement ends and you can drive the beach up towards VA. Wild horses roam up there also.

I remember taking the kids to the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devils Hill when they were young. We stood at the memorial and watched fighter jets fly up the coast right over the beach. I just shook my head thinking how far we had advanced flight in about 100 years.
 

HoboJeep

Active Member
First Name
John
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
40
Reaction score
64
Location
NC
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLUR Sting Gray
You probably already know about Hurricane Creek to Max Patch. Or just go to Max Patch and hike part of the AT.
 

HoboJeep

Active Member
First Name
John
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
40
Reaction score
64
Location
NC
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLUR Sting Gray
I realized I posted earlier stating “if anyone wants details of the roads or locations, message me” and that kind of defeats the spirit of the thread.

The tall waterfall we found is Toms Creek Falls off 221, north of Marion on Huskins Branch Road. Forest Service Road 469 is adjacent to the trail head. It’s a 2ish mile road with a couple small waterfalls. There are several spurs but they are all gated.

My favorite trail of the weekend was Pigeon Roost Trail off Pigeon Roost Road. There are a couple stream crossings, a small waterfall near the first crossing, and the trail follows the stream up into the forest. There are a ton photo ops along the way.
Thanks for the info!
 
OP
OP
UNC Rubicon

UNC Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bret
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,634
Reaction score
2,990
Location
Kernersville, NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Billet Silver JLUR
Vehicle Showcase
1
You probably already know about Hurricane Creek to Max Patch. Or just go to Max Patch and hike part of the AT.
Yep. I’ve been on Hurricane Creek twice. It’s a lot of fun. There are a couple camping spots along the trail. Last time we were there, we stopped at a big spot adjacent to the creek, just south of the abandoned bus. I’ve heard from a guy on Facebook that area is on private property. I’ll have to double check that info next time I’m up there.

Max Patch has some amazing views and was a fun short hike. I’ll take my kiddos back sometime soon.
Sponsored

 
Last edited:
 



Top