Wintergreen Falls, Dupont State Recreational Forest

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/12/2026	5.8 miles	2 hours 49 minutes	454'	2.4 mph	271.5

Parking: 

• Guion Farm Access

Map:

• Pisgah Map Co. Dupont

Directions:

• From the parking lot, take the Connector Trail next to the parking lot. Turn right onto Tarkiln Branch Road. Turn left onto Wintergreen Falls Trail. Hike to Wintergreen Falls. Turn around. Turn left onto Grassy Creek Trail. Hike to the intersection of Joanna Road. Return the same way, but skipping the trip to Wintergreen Falls.

Temps in the low 80's and we had a free day, so we went back to Dupont. We have never hiked to Wintergreen Falls, so that was one of our destinations today. We usually try to avoid Dupont on weekends due to crowds, but the Guion Farm Access parking area typically is less crowded than other Dupont parking lots. 

We started out on a road, and had the occasional mountain bikers cross our paths. We hiked to Wintergreen Falls, hoping it would be a good place for Krumm to swim. It wasn't.  Its a small waterfall, with a small pool. We let Krumm get in the water, but he struggled to get out, because the rocks on the edge were too slippery for him to climb up. I thought I might have to go in to help him out, but eventually he did. We let him wade in an area that was easier to get out of, but it wasn't enough to swim in. So definitely a 2 paws down rating. 

We continued on down Grassy Creek Trail. We had seen there is a creek crossing, so we brought Crocs and small towels in case we had to wade. There are big rocks at the crossing, so if the water is low, you can cross without getting wet. I would still recommend hiking poles for the crossing if you have shorter legs or have balance issues. We hiked to Joanna Road. We are working on hiking all of the trails in Dupont. Joanna Road was going to be a challenge, due to me not being able to hike longer distances currently. The Pisgah Map Co. map (2022 edition) shows Joanna Road extending to the east. There is a trailhead at the end, but it says you need a high clearance vehicle to reach it. Well - it turns out that section is permanently closed. So no need for us to find a friend with a higher clearance vehicle. On the hike back, after crossing Grassy Creek, we stopped and let Krumm swim there. It is actually deep enough that it makes a decent swimming spot. He was happy.

Sign on the connector path next to the parking lot.

Stream crossing that was shown on the map

Joanna Road is closed to the east of the trail intersection.
I didn't see Briery Fork Trail which I thought was at this intersection too.

Stopping to swim at Grassy Creek

Lake Julia and Fawn Lake, Dupont State Recreational Forest

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/9/2026	4.9 miles	3 hours 3 minutes	379'	2.3 mph	265.7

Parking: 

• Fawn Lake Access Area

Map:

• Pisgah Map Co. Dupont

Directions:

• Turn right from the parking lot. Turn left onto Conservation Road. Cross the airstrip and turn right onto Camp Summit Road. Turn left onto Lake Julia Road. Turn right onto Conservation Road. Turn left onto Shelter Rock Trail. Turn left onto the Airstrip Trail. At the air strip, turn left and walk to the end. Turn around, and continue walking on the air strip. Turn right onto Conservation Road. Turn right onto Fawn Lake Road and return to the parking area.

We've been wanting to go to Dupont, but have been waiting for a break in the heat, plus a weekday, because Dupont is very crowded on weekends. Temps were in the low 80's which was good enough. Conservation Road isn't particularly exciting, but it gets you to Camp Summit Road and Lake Julia Road. These are still woods roads, however, they provide access to Lake Julia. My 2022 trail map shows the Lake View Loop Trail as a spur trail at the intersection of  Camp Summit Road and Lake Julia Road, but that trail is permanently closed. There is a sign up that says authorized personnel only can go there (there's also a park building there). However, there is a grassy area with benches and access to the lake. It's a beautiful spot that we had to ourselves. And its perfect for dog swimming! So, we've discovered a new place to take Krumm. The lake looked clean (no algae) and the view is pretty. We let Krumm have a long swim. He was unhappy when it was time to go. 

We moved onto the Shelter Rock Trail - it was nice to be on a real trail instead of a woods road. Then a switchbacked uphill on the Airstrip Trail. I love the air strip itself. It has a nice view at the end. From what I read, the runway was built by Ben Cart, who bought about 1,400 acres in the Cedar Mountain area in 1967. He established Summit Camps, two large summer camps for boys and girls around what is now Lake Julia. Cart was also a pilot. He eventually decided that having his own airplane would make it much easier to travel around the country promoting the camps. So he had a private runway constructed right through the forest. Construction began around 1975 and wasn't finished until 1979.

Rather than taking the Conservation Trail back to the trailhead, we took Fawn Lake Road. This passes by Fawn Lake. Fawn Lake is a very popular swimming hole, so although we like it, we don't always let Krumm swim there. There were only 2 people there - attempting to paddle board, so we stopped again and let Krumm swim. The paddleboarders were entertained. Another couple arrived to swim as we were about to leave. The woman said - your dog is having the best life. Isn't that true! Krumm begs to differ, as we don't take him swimming EVERY day.

The painted X's on the airstrip mean its been decomissioned

Crossing the air strip, continuing on Conservation Road

Turning onto Cam Summit Road

Turning right at the lake

Reasonover Creek Trail intersects here to the right.
Saving this for another day.

We stopped to read a sign on Reasonover Creek Trail about a bridge being out.

There used to be a loop trail straight ahead. It's now closed.

However, this intersection has access to Lake Julia.
With picnic tables & benches.
And no people!

Off the roads and onto a trail

Turning onto the Airstrip Trail

Walking over to the air strip view

A second swim at Fawn Lake

Bull Creek Preserve, Swannanoa

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/7/2026	3.4 miles	2 hours 7 minutes	174'	2.1 mph	260.8

Parking: 

• Riceville Road, across the street from Berea Baptist Church

Map:

• Gai GPS app

Directions:

• Misc trails.

A nice break in the heat, so we stayed for an extra long swim.

Spotted a bulldozer. Some trails are getting closed as work is in progress.

We spotted this black snake next to the trail

Bull Creek Preserve, Swannanoa

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
9/6/2026	3.5 miles	1 hour 52 minutes	186'	2.0 mph	257.4

Parking: 

• Riceville Road, across the street from Berea Baptist Church

Map:

• Gai GPS app

Directions:

• Misc trails.

Today's highlight was discovering a collection of earth star fungi.

Bull Creek Preserve, Swannanoa

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
8/30/2026	3.5 miles	?	?	?	253.9

Parking: 

• Riceville Road, across the street from Berea Baptist Church

Map:

• Gai GPS app

Directions:

• Misc trails.

Back at home, and Krumm's feet have healed, so its time to go swimming. 

There is some major trail work going on at Bull Creek Preserve. I guess its got to look a lot worse before it looks better. I'd love to hear about all of the plans.

 

Cardinal Flower

Leafy Elephant's Foot?

The trail has been bulldozed! Oddly, we see grass seed planted here.