THE TRAIL: From the gate it’s a simple trail to follow. There are benches at Point Lookout and throughout the trail for resting or enjoying the views of the Royal Gorge.Parking and AccessThe preferred parking area is located on the eastern end near Old Fort either at the Old Fort Picnic Grounds or at the shoulder of the road a few hundred feet from the gate. Views, history, natural beauty. The route used to be Highway 10, then Highway 70 {now called Old Highway 70}, and it was blocked off decades ago in this particular stretch from Ridgecrest to Old Fort. It’s gorgeous, well paved for the most part, and very scenic. 828-668-4282. Please Note: Mountain biking is not permitted over the summit of Old Fort Point.The whole loop is hiked on Trail#1, which starts behind the trailhead kiosk in the parking lot. Please do not block private driveways. The trail reaches dusty FR 2730-200, which access the Flag Point Lookout tower, at a meadow and the Sunset Spring Trailhead, where four trails meet. ; continue on back down from behind Old Fort's lookout. Address. From here, you can go back down the way you came or connect to one of the other trails to extend your hike (the brief Hickory Ridge Trail starts on the ridge top and connects to several other trails). Look closely, and you’ll also be able to pick out the lookout tower on Flag Point, as the far end of the Divide Trail. I don't know what the powers that be have in mind for this repair. due to mudslide, trail is closed for now. This site was the location of a tourist area for many decades. Make sure your brake pads are in good condition. We hike 3.6 miles up o see the Mountain view and 3.6 back. There is an excellent paved road, some beautiful plants and flowers, and lots of heavy breathing. Today's Old Fort community is known for outdoor adventure, including Catawba Falls, Kitsuma Peak, Snook's Nose, Point Lookout Trail, Jarrett's Creek, Heartbreak Ridge, and soon the Fonta Flora Trail. Mesa Verde Point Lookout Trail is a 2.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Instead of coasting back down the trail, I took Mill Creek Road, (the dirt road you see on the right when you reach the top) and made a big circle back to the picnic area where I was parked. We rode up with our bicycles. ... From Marion, take Interstate 40 west to exit 73. Collision between a bike tracking at high speed and an inspecting walker can end tragically. It intersects where the main trail almost touches the ridge, on your left, several hundred feet below the top. The road was left to nature until it was cleaned up and reopened as a paved greenway in 2009, thanks to a joint effort among non-profit organizations, private … This past January, Jamie Sharp, sent me a few photos of the new greenway from last fall. Although the lookout tower is visible from parts of Kernville, access to the trailhead requires some time. There are also trails leading off of this loop, and one could take the road from the ridge top (Ridgecrest) all the way into Asheville. Just stay on the blacktopped surface and enjoy the view. There is no parking available here. Turn right toward Old Fort. An information site with pictures is near the top. Lookout point is about 0.6 miles from the trailhead. The problems mentioned by a previous reviewer appear to have been repaired and the road looks to be in good shape. Old Fort, NC 28762 Non-motorized trail, formerly a portion of Old U.S. Highway 70. Legions of hikers race right past on Cascade River Road, leaving Lookout Mountain with a fraction of the crowds of those other trails. TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. At the big arrowhead turn left onto Hwy 70. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Trail Background and History In 2008, McDowell County, the US Forest Service, NCDOT, the Town of Old Fort, and the McDowell Trails Association partnered to rehabilitate and reopen the former US 70 between Old Fort and Ridgecrest. Well known for its great waterways, iconic cottages and historic towns such as Bala and Port Carling, it is also home to some of the coolest hiking trails in the area. The route formerly served as the primary link between the Asheville area and the rest of North Carolina from its origin as part of NC 10 (the Central Highway) until the opening of the new highway (first US 70 then I 40/US 70) several decades later. Continue to the intersection of Mill Creek Road; parking is at the picnic grounds on left, from May to October.You can get closer by continuing to Piney Grove Baptist church; parking is usually available on the shoulder. Last year, I blogged about how 3.6 miles of the former Central Highway (US 70/NC 10) in McDowell County, NC were to become part of a greenway called the Point Lookout Trail. Blue Ridge Travelers' Towns & Trails Visitor Center 91 South Catawba Avenue , Mill Creek Village , Old Fort, NC 28762-8920 After taking in the panoramic views of the valley containing Jasper Park Lodge, Lac Beauvert, the Athabasca river, etc. Cooperative Extension-McDowell County Center Keep McDowell Beautiful Program will be hosting a hike on the Point Lookout Trail in conjunction with the Old Fort Community Forum. Biggest thing to note, this trail is either all uphill or all downhill depending which end you begin on. From I-40, take Exit 73/Old Fort and go north on Catawba Ave. to Main St./US 70; turn left and take the next right on Old Highway 70. It's an easy paved path, the climb isn't so bad (gradual and steady) with great views. The Point Lookout Greenway is a 3.5-mile paved walking/biking trail near the Inn, in scenic McDowell County. Enjoy! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/old-fort-point Spectacular views of the Royal Gorge and 19th century railroad tunnels. Today's Old Fort community is known for outdoor adventure, including Catawba Falls, Kitsuma Peak, Snook's Nose, Point Lookout Trail, Jarrett's Creek, Heartbreak Ridge, and soon the Fonta Flora Trail. However, there is work being done just below Point Lookout where a culvert is being replace. This trail is a continuous climb which had me wishing I had brought my mountain bike instead of my road bike. It is a very easy hike but do bring water and snacks as the grade and length of the hike can get tiring over time. Point Lookout Trail. Mile 10.2 – Hike ends at the entrance of the Old Fort Picnic Area. This trail has all the features for a casual ride i.e. The "Old Fort" no longer stands, however, the history is shared through a series of downtown murals, The 7 Wonders Trail. A trail brochure states the Lookout Creek Old-Growth Trail is 2.6 miles long, though a sign at the upper trailhead states the trail is approximately 3.5 miles in length – both of these are incorrect. Lookout Rock is the official end of trail, but you can scramble up a little further to the top of the ridge on Lookout Mountain. 1885. Point Lookout Trail. Surrounded by Pisgah National Forest and barricaded to motorized vehicles at both ends, it was formerly part of Old US Highway 70, winding through the woods with serene views of the mountains, the railroad and forest. North Trail heads up the coast to the right toward Cape Lookout Campground. Cooperative Extension-McDowell County Center Keep McDowell Beautiful Program will be hosting a hike on the Point Lookout Trail in conjunction with the Old Fort Community Forum. A great trail, but please be aware of rockslide approximately 1.6 miles from Old Fort terminus. On the map, the Trinity lakes splash across the page maybe 40 miles east of Boise. Mile 8.0 – View west of Point Lookout and Youngs Ridge towering over the western opening of the Royal Gorge . You’ll be looking back toward Old Fort and Marion. Trail map of the Point Lookout Trail from Old Fort to Ridgecrest. This portion of Old U.S. Hwy 70 was closed off after Interstate 40 was constructed during the Eisenhower era. This route saves the lookout … This portion is clearly marked. Hike the well defined trail down and in a long loop towards the left. You can park in the picnic grounds. Cape Lookout Trail. Old Fort – May 18, 2019, 9 a.m. N.C. Nearby While you are in the area, check out Andrews Geyser (great place for a picnic) and the quaint village of Old Fort (check out shops, restaurants and weekly music jams). Lookout Mountain 647 Trailhead Forecast. To mark the occasion, a flagpole with the United States and North Carolina flags has been put back on the spot where one used to stand back in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Point Lookout Day 2 Hike. Paved, hiking and bicycle trail rising approximately 1,000 feet in elevation within a 3.62 mile trail. The dream became a reality at a ceremony on October 30, 2008, when the recently completed trail was dedicated and named the Point Lookout Trail. Point Lookout Trail. Description: Point Lookout Trail is a highway-turned-greenway, running more than 3.5 miles between Ridgecrest and Old Fort. Length 2.1 mi Elevation gain 531 ft Route type Out & Back With a spur to a lookout point high over Lake Michigan. The old road was closed to vehicular traffic in 1982 and was only used by the occasional cyclist or hiker for over two decades. Took roughly 45 minutes with stops to take in the beautiful views. Mile 8.0 – View west of Point Lookout and Youngs Ridge towering over the western opening of the Royal Gorge . Point Lookout Trail is the 3.6 miles of what used to be Old Highway 70 from Old Fort to Ridgecrest and is a segment of the Fonta Flora State Trail. The summit is forested but some cliffs just to the north provide an overlook. 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