Agile Trekker

Go down the steps and pass through the gate to take the Commissary Trail. This is a wide gravel trail. At the sign for Camp Alice Trail, continue straight on the wide gravel path. Pass a hairpin turn on the right. Pass the Commissary Hill Backcountry Campsite on the right. In a few feet, the Mount Mitchell Trail heads off to the left. At this point, turn around and return the same way.

We headed up to Mt. Mitchell State Park to see some fall foliage. We drove by Craggy Gardens, which was in the clouds (as it often is). The visitor center parking lot was packed anyways. The fall foliage is about at peak between Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell. I never get tired of the view in that section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Our plan was to hike the Old Mount Mitchell Trail from Stepps Gap to the summit. That trail was closed though, so we took the Commissary Trail, which leaves from the same trailhead. The parking lot was quite full, but we only saw 3 people on our hike. We were in the clouds, so we had no views, but it was still a beautiful hike. The fir trees smelled amazing. I really enjoyed seeing the fall foliage and autumn blooming flowers. Krumm got a chance to play at the water crossings, and we also let him off leash for a few minutes at the campsite (where there was a sign suggesting it's not a good idea to camp there due to bear activity).

If you are planning on hiking at Mt. Mitchell State Park - check out the trail closures: MOMI_OverallMap_Closures_9-12-25 Campgrounds are closed as well.

Common Sneezeweed

Red Spruce

Tape showing the closed trail.

Hairpin turn on the right - this trail is closed too.

We saw many gentians along the sides of the trail.

Hoping for a stick to be thrown at the campground.

Seek calls this bearberry

Back at the trailhead

Warren Wilson College Trails (now called the Bull Creek Preserve), Swannanoa

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
10/3/2025	3.5 miles	2 hours	209'	2.0 mph	286.2 miles

Parking:

Riceville Road, across the street from Berea Baptist Church

Map:

Gai GPS app

Directions:

Misc Trails

We had time for our normal loop today. We saw something new - some spray-painted trees and signs from the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Earlier this summer we had seen some land surveyors in the area, and I commented to Glen that I wondered if the land was being sold. It has been! The SAHC is now the owner of 191 acres in the area that we hike. The college will still be able to use the land, and the public will still have access to the trails. It looks like this area is now called Bull Creek Preserve.

See: Innovative Partnership Protects 191 acres for Future Generations - Warren Wilson College and CMP Story and Photos_SAHCBullCreekPreserveatWWC FINAL.pdf - Google Drive

Worth shivering for

This is new!

Mother and cub seen on the drive home.

Warren Wilson College trails, Swannanoa

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/24/2025	1.7 miles	52 minutes	119'	2.1 mph	282.7 miles

Parking:

Riceville Road, across the street from Berea Baptist Church

Map:

Gai GPS app

Directions:

Misc Trails

A hike cut short by rainy weather. We took a different route than normal, hoping to avoid muddy trails. This trail was quite pretty.

Warren Wilson College Trail, Swannanoa

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/24/2025	1.8 miles	1 hour	118'	2.0 mph	281 miles

Parking:

Riceville Road, across the street from Berea Baptist Church

Map:

Gai GPS app

Directions:

Misc Trails

A short evening hike. We didn't have time to do our normal route, so we made up a new route. We came across 2 loose dogs. The first I caught in the parking lot. Her owner came by a couple of minutes later. The second one ran past us twice on a couple of trails, a collar with no tags, no owner in sight. Maybe I need to carry a spare leash with me. We let Krumm in the water, but didn't throw any sticks for him, as he's recovering from a puncture wound in his mouth from a thrown stick. He was begging for us to throw sticks for him. Man-made toys don't work so well in the creek, as sometimes the sticks we throw aren't retrieved and go down the creek. Even though we've gotten rain recently, the creek is looking shallow and muddy.

We ran into a bear in the trail in front of us. It didn't run away. We turned around and went back the way we came. The good bear stayed where it was, feeding on something.

Waiting for a stick.....

There are a lot of fall flowers along the trail.