Bent Creek Hike - Sunday, Jan. 12

January 10, 2025

WNC Sierra Club is starting off the New Year with a hike at Bent Creek on Sunday, Jan. 12.

After arriving at the Hard Times trailhead, we will hike about a quarter-mile down to Old Bent Creek Gap Road, turn right, and do a 2-mile loop that takes us along Bent Creek to Lake Powhatan, around the lake, then along the Pine Tree loop.

Once we hit the loop, we will take a shortcut (cross country through the woods along a stream) across to the other side of the loop and return on the other side of the lake. There will be wonderful views of the stream, lake and woods! 

When we arrive back at the turn to the parking lot, you can head up to your car OR do a second loop from there (this one is about 3 miles). We will go along Bent Creek Gap Road to Cedar Mountain/Carolina Mountain Trail loop and then back along Old Bent Creek Gap Road and the parking lot. If you do both loops, your total hike will be a bit over 5 miles. Both loops are well maintained and gentle with a total elevation gain of around 200 feet. 

Please plan to bring plenty of layers, rain gear, and snacks/lunch and at least one liter of water. If anyone is experiencing COVID symptoms, is still in quarantine after testing positive for COVID, is feeling sick, and/or has a fever, they should not attend this outing. Families are welcome! Any children should be accompanied and supervised by parents or other adult family members. No dogs on this hike please.

We will have two meeting spots on Sunday 1/12: 

  • At 11 a.m., folks can meet in west Asheville at 151 Smokey Park Highway in the parking lot directly behind Chick-Fil-A. We will sort out carpooling and then drive about 20 minutes to the Hard Times trailhead in Bent Creek. 
  • If anyone wants to meet us at the trailhead at 11:30, you can find the directions with this link. You can get directions from the link or simply turn off Old Haywood Road onto Wesley Brand Road (you can only turn in one direction) and go 2.2 miles down Wesley Branch Road and you will see the sign for Hard Times trailhead on the left side of the road. There are a couple of other pull out areas there as well. We will meet at the Information Display in the main parking area at 11:30.

Please email Ed Maggart at edmaggart@gmail.com or text him at 828-713-0541 to sign up. Be sure to indicate at which meeting spot you'll rendezvous with the group.