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Northeast Georgia HikingNew & Old Friends Who Like to Hike

July 7, 2015

Pickens Nose Trail and Albert Mt. - NC

Trail information

Pickens Nose Mountain was named after Revolutionary War General Andrew Pickens. The Pickens Nose Trail is heavily used by rock climbers/rappelers since it has magnificent rock faces. The views there are awesome! Our second hike started at the parking lot below the summit of Albert Mountain, there is a connector trail up to the Appalachian Trail and then we follow the A.T. up to the summit and fire tower for some of the most spectacular views on the entire 2,000+ mile Trail. The Laurel Creek Trail is on the forest service road toward Standing Indian Campground. Laurel Creek Falls is a beautiful jewel in the NC mountains and the creek combines with others to form the headwaters of the Nantahala River. Total hiking distance today - About 5 miles with considerable elevation gain. We rate the hike moderately easy

Directions

Take highway 441 north from Clayton, GA to the community of Otto, NC. Turn left onto Coweeta Lab Road . Drive several miles up this road and you will see the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab on your right. Continue on past the lab and the road becomes a gravel Forest Service road 83. Continue up this road for several miles and you will come to a sign for Pickens Nose. There is a parking area here. For Albert Mountain, continue on past this area a mile or so and there is a fork in the road and a sign pointing to the right to Albert Mountain. Continue on the right fork to the end of the road where there is a parking area. Hike up the connector trail behind the gate to the A.T. and turn right to Albert Mt. For Laurel Creek Falls, drive back down the road from Albert Mountain and turn right onto F.S. road 83 and continue several miles to the trail sign on the left. Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy with temperatures ranging from 67 to 74 degrees F

Conditions

Partly Cloudy with temperatures ranging from 67 to 74 degrees F.

Hikers (14)

  • Geri Barrios
  • Wayne Barrios
  • PHIL BROWNRIGG
  • Joe Collins
  • Chuck Crisp
  • Greta Driggers
  • Jim Driggers
  • Mike Jones
  • Bob Magee
  • Jeanne O'Connor
  • Tony Presley Sandy Robson
  • Vic Robson
  • Malivia Swanson
  • Carole Wintle

Flowers in bloom

Heal-all, Purple-flowering Raspberry, Turk's Cap Lily, Whoreled Loosestrife, Oxeye Daisy, Tall Bluet, Bush Honeysuckle, White Yarrow, Downy Phlox, Rosebay Rhododendron, Indian Pipes, Squaw Root, Lance-leafe Coreopsis, Heal-All, Black-eyed Susan

Birds identified

Blue Jay, Veery, Black and White Warbler, Pine Warbler, Towhee, Junco, Nuthatch

Photos (14)

  • Our 1st trailhead today on F.S. Rd. 83.
  • Getting ready to hike Pickens Nose!
  • Hiking uphill toward the summit.
  • The Rosebay Rhododendrons were in peak bloom all along the trails today!
  • Breathtaking views from the summit!
  • Bob stands out on the most famous rock outcrop at Pickens Nose.
  • Next, we move up to the Appalachian Trail toward Albert Mountain (elev. 5,2010 ft)
  • The Albert Mt. Fire tower at the summit.
  • Great 360 degree views from the tower!
  • Lunchtime at Albert Mt.!
  • Our third trail of the day to Laurel Creek Falls!
  • Crossing the creek on the footbridge.
  • Laurel Creek Falls
  • The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r) Vic Robson Geri Barrios, Wayne Barrios, Bob Magee, Bob Magee, Phil Brownrigg, Malivia Swanson, Jeanne O'Connor, Jim Driggers, Greta Driggers, Joe Collins, Sandy Robson, Chuck Crisp, Carole Wintle, Tony Presley, Mike Jones and "Barney" .