June 28, 2016
Whiteside Mountain Trail - NC
Trail information
We traveled to Highlands, NC today hiked the Whiteside Mountain loop trail up and across the rim at the top of the breathtaking cliffs on Whiteside Mountain. The loop is 2.5 miles with awesome 700 ft granite cliffs. There are nice guard rails to keep hikers safer as they walk along the rim of the cliffs. Total hiking distance today - 2.5 miles with some elevation change. We rate the hike difficulty as moderate
Directions
From the Dillard Highway 106 drive to the intersection of Highway 64 in downtown Highlands, turn right and continue thru town to the traffic light where 64 turns left toward Cashiers. Travel toward Cashiers on US 64 for 5.5 miles to the Whiteside Mountain Road sign turn right on paved road NC 1600 and go .6 mile and turn left into the parking lot. Another great day for a hike! WILD
Conditions
Mostly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the upper 60's to the upper 70's F.
Hikers (10)
- John Anderson
- Bob Browe
- Phil Brownrigg
- Joe Collins
- Kanchan Garg
- Trushna Nadig
- Sandy Robson
- Vic Robson
- Carole Wintle
- Jack Wintle
Flowers in bloom
Bush Honeysuckle, Flame Azalea, Rosebay Rhododendron, Leather Flower Clematis, Queen Ann's Lace, Four Leaf Milkweed
Birds identified
Junco, American Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Nuthatch and Tufted Titmouse
Photos (14)
Our trailhead for today! The new improved steps at the start of the trail. Sign near the start of the trail. The trail up to the summit is mostly gravel and is a long gradual climb. Our first vista is cloudy but still very beautiful! This is a Leather Flower Wild Clematis near the first vista. There are lots of nice educational signs across the rim of the mountain. This area is fogged in but you can see the nice guard rails. Bush Honeysuckle Here we have a nice cable guard rail. One of the massive rock cliffs. Rosebay Rhododendron A nice moth or butterfly? The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r) John Anderson, Kanchan Garg, Joe Collins, Bob Browe, Trushna Nadig, Jack Wintle, Carole Wintle, Sandy Robson, Phil Brownrigg and Vic Robson.