SUGAR KNOB/UPPER CREEK WILD AREA
updated 10/25/07
Sugar Knob is part of the Linville Wild Area Cluster.
It did not qualify as an Inventoried Forest Service Roadless
Area.
The Forest Service has published a very useful map called
"The Wilson Creek Area Trail Map"
which covers most of the Sugar Knob Area.
Orange line shows "NC Mtn Treasures" Wild Area boundary
recommended for protection.
Green is "SPNM", SemiPrimitive NonMotorized, National
Forest land.
Brown is private land, tan is National Forest land.
Major trails are shown as dashed lines.
Location:
On the border of Avery and Burke Counties, just W of and
connected by a narrow neck to Harper Creek WSA.
Access:
From the Blue Ridge Parkway take NC 181 (Jonas Ridge Road)
to parking area WSW of Winding Stair Knob. From there, bushwhack NE 2000
ft to the knob and then bushwhack down into Upper Creek drainage. You
can reach the E end of the wild area, where it joins Harper Creek WSA, by
taking Wilson Creek Road, (County 1328) S from Mortimer to FS road 982. From
this road go W to FS 198 and follow NW to FS camping area, then follow FS
road WNW to gain access to the ridge just SE of Sugar Knob itself. You
can reach NW corner of the wild area from Mortimer by going N on NC 90 to
FS road 464. Follow 464 W past Little Lost Cove Cliffs to a FS camping area,
then go S and E on FS road 58, then S again to a parking area and junction
with FS trail 267. Follow trail, partly old road, W on the N side of
Harper Creek drainage.
USGS Topographic Quadrangles: Chestnut Mountain. Also see USFS
Wilson Creek Area Trail Map.
Features/Description/Potential:
Sugar Knob is important as a westward extension of
the Harper Creek WSA. The N half forms the headwaters of Harper Creek,
separated from S half by Sugar Knob itself. FS Trail 267, shown on
Wilson Creek Trail Map, crosses the NW tip of the area. This trail
is an old road bed and is hard to follow. It will be obliterated by
a planned timber sale, which will also lop off the NW corner of the wild
area N of Harper Creek. The Forest Service is cooperating with the
Ruffed Grouse Society to create habitat for grouse, early successional forest.
Upper Creek is spectacularly beautiful, with cascades and a gorge.
The forest around it is quite old, with large trees.