Saturday, October 29

100 in the 100: Old Sugarlands Trail

Old Sugarlands Trail 

Trail Features:History, Riversugarland mountain
Trail Location:Newfound Gap Road
One-Way Length:7.6 Miles
Total Elevation Gain:1345 Feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:--- Feet
Highest Elevation:--- Feet
Trail Difficulty Rating:9.18 (moderate)






I was very excited to begin this trail.  Jeff & Beverly Murrell recommended it and I love trails with historical interest. This is a wide trail that follows the logging road and is well maintained.  Mostly I was excited to see the old CCC camp and some of the remaining abandoned structure that are still in place.

There were not many people on the trail as I finally found the right pull off on the side of the road (on the left just before the Sugarlands Visitor Center) and set off.  It's a really pleasant walk the first 1.6 miles which is the distance to the Civilian Conservation Corp camp.

Fireplace is the biggest piece left of the CCC camp
 I was just getting ready to start the incline portion of the hike, just strolling along all by myself when I looked up and saw a huge black bear.  I'm not sure which of us was the most surprised.  I certainly was.  He was too as he quickly turned and made his way back the way he came - unfortunately for me it was up the trail where I was headed.  I thought for a moment and decided that I didn't have any interest in following a huge black bear up the mountain by myself.  So I turned around and headed back!  I think it was the right decision.  And I still had a nice walk in the woods.


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