Campsite
40
LENGTH:
1 Mile SKILL: Novice
PROS:
Creek, wildlife, old growth and dense understory CONS:
None
WATER:
Lots NOTES: Bear activity has been
observed at this campsite.
CAMPING
INFORMATION
Cataloochee
| Campsite 39 | Campsite
40
Photos
| Cataloochee Information
 This
short hike begins at the very end of Cataloochee Road. As you park
your vehicle the you will notice Rough Fork Creek across from the
parking area. The Rough Fork Trail follows this rushing creek all
of the way to campsite 40, crossing it on footlogs four times.
 About
a half of a mile down the trail the Woody House comes into view.
This house is open for all to explore and is frequented by many
visitor because of it's proximity to the trail head. A small spring
house near the Woody Place is a great illustration of the settlers
life without electricity. The trees that surround this house are
young. Until this land was acquired by the park service, this was
farm pasture. Now it is has been reclaimed by the forest.
 While
hiking here this Spring, we had the privilege of encountering a
female wild turkey with her chicks. As we approached the turkey,
she became upset at our intrusion. Without warning she charged us
with her plumage in full display. She must have decided that once
was not enough and charged a second time. After seeing that we didn't
run away in fear, she ran into the underbrush away from her chicks.
It appeared that she was trying to lead us away from her brood.
 This
trail is an old road, so it is well suited for first time back-packers.
All four crossings of Rough Fork Creek are over very stable foot
bridges. The grade is a very easy climb to 40. Lining the trail
on both sides is the very dense "Dog Hobble". The purple-ish
leaves of this plant are hard to miss. It earned this unusual name
because its' dense growth used to hinder the hunting dogs of the
mountain folk.
Directly
after the last (fourth) creek crossing the wooden marker for campsite
40 is on the right. Notice the scratch marks on the post. This is
how male bears mark their territory. Luckily the park service has
installed devices at this campsite to hang your packs safely away
from hungry bears.
Enter the
campsite through a tunnel of dense rhododendron. This campsite is
under a canopy of old growth hemlocks. There are only a few sites
here but that only adds to its' charm. Whereas campsite
39 is located in an open area under hemlocks, campsite 40 is
situated in a dense thicket of rhododendron under mature hemlocks.
There are only a few spots here so 39 makes a great alternative
if 40 is full.
Cataloochee
| Campsite 39 | Campsite
40
Photos
| Cataloochee Information
|
