25 Turkey Pen Loop

TURKEY PEN LOOP INCLUDES A FORD OF THE SOUTH FORK MILLS RIVER.

SCENERY:

TRAIL CONDITION:

CHILDREN:

DIFFICULTY:

SOLITUDE:

GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES: N35° 20.560' W82° 39.569'

DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 4.6-mile loop

HIKING TIME: 2.5 hours

HIGHLIGHTS: South Mills River

ELEVATION: 2,378 feet at the river to 2,780 feet at the Mullinax Trail intersection

ACCESS: Free and always open

MAPS: USGS Pisgah Forest

FACILITIES: None

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: None

COMMENTS: This hike includes a river ford and should not be attempted by those uncomfortable in water or unable to swim. In normal conditions the water depth will not exceed 2 feet, but water levels and current can vary.

CONTACTS: Pisgah National Forest (828) 257-4200; cs.unca.edu/nfsnc

Overview

This hike will take you through the heart of Turkey Pen in Pisgah National Forest. The route begins by contouring the banks of the South Mills River. After 1.2 miles you will be faced with a chilly, adventurous, adult knee-level river ford. Continuing on with wet feet, you will travel on rolling terrain through a peaceful hardwood forest. Near the end of the hike, the trail will descend to the South Mills River, and you will need to cross the rushing water once again. This time, however, a suspension bridge spares you another river ford and by the time you return to the trailhead, you will have a smile on your face, lots of pictures on your camera, and maybe even dry feet!

Route Details

Turkey Pen is a hidden hiking gem in Pisgah National Forest. Tucked between North Mills River Recreation Area and Brevard, the area is one of the most popular horseback riding destinations in Pisgah. The rough road leading to the trailhead and the river fords, even the one via the suspension bridge, sometimes discourage hikers and mountain bikers from exploring the terrain. But if you have good clearance on your car and don’t mind getting your feet wet, Turkey Pen Loop offers a great place to seek solitude and adventure.

The trails that lead out of the Turkey Pen parking lot offer a wide array of length and difficulty. With trails that connect to Pink Beds, the Pisgah Ranger Station, and the Mountains to Sea Trail, this location offers unending day hike and overnight options. That said, before branching out to explore the outer reaches of Turkey Pen, it is important to acquaint yourself with the heart of the trail network. The Turkey Pen Loop does just that. By connecting some of the main pedestrian arteries at Turkey Pen, this hike allows you to become familiar with the terrain and trails at Turkey Pen before choosing to extend your adventure on additional routes.

To begin the Turkey Pen Loop, park in the hiker parking area at the trailhead and locate the wooden information kiosk. (Note: Parking in the horse trailer portion of the parking area will result in a fine—unless you happen to have a horse trailer hitched up.)

Once parked, locate the white-blazed South Fork Mills River Trail behind the kiosk to the left of the road. Follow the singletrack trail downhill through a rhododendron tunnel to the bank of the South Fork of the Mills River.

Once you reach the river, at mile 0.4, you will pass a wooden suspension bridge on your left and then you will turn right on the orange-blazed Bradley Creek Trail. Continue on Bradley Creek Trail and along the eastern shore of the South Mills River. There are several campsites alongside the river, which provide nice resting spots and a good place to play in the water when the temperatures are warm. It is curious that even though you are hiking north, you are still following the river downstream. Mills River is, in fact, part of the French Broad River Basin, and the water will continue to flow north to Hot Springs, North Carolina, and across the Tennessee border before joining the Tennessee River and eventually heading south to the Gulf of Mexico.

After 0.8 miles of walking, you will arrive at what seems to be a dead end when the trail terminates at a sandy riverbank. Upon scanning the forest to the east and to the south, you will clearly see that the trail continues to the north—across the river. It’s time to roll up your pants, and perhaps remove your socks, before braving the cold-water temperatures and fording. On average, the current is not strong and the water levels will rise to the knees of an adult. Children may need to be carried across the river. If you feel unsafe fording the river, do not hesitate to turn back to the trailhead at this point.

Once you reach the opposite side of the river, continue the trail on the west bank of the waterway. During the hot summer months, the tall trees and steep slope to the west will provide pleasant shade to walk beneath. The riverbank also offers several protruding rocks, where you can sit and watch the ripples on the surface of the water.

At mile 1.3 you will arrive at a junction with the Riverside Trail. Turn left at the trail junction and hike uphill and away from the river to remain on Bradley Creek Trail. The trail will lead you on undulating terrain through a hardwood forest for another half mile, at which point the trail crosses a small creek and intersects Squirrel Gap Trail. Turn left on the blue-blazed Squirrel Gap Trail and follow the path on a gradual ascent next to a trickling stream. This portion of the hike is located on the north slope of a ridge that connects Poundingstone Mountain and Buck Mountain. Except for the occasional aircraft there is very little noise pollution there.

At the west terminus of Squirrel Gap Trail, near the remains of an old fire ring, you will intersect the Mullinax Trail. Turn left on the Mullinax Trail and hike south. At the time of this guidebook’s printing, there was a slight reroute to the Mullinax Trail at mile 2.8. The reroute is well marked and will lead to a sharp left-hand turn (south) at mile 3 and then another sharp turn east at mile 3.3 near a creek crossing. After hiking a cumulative 3.7 miles, the Mullinax Trail ends at a T-intersection with the South Mills River Trail. Turn left on the white-blazed South Mills River Trail and follow it across the suspension bridge that spans South Fork Mills River. Past the suspension bridge, turn right and retrace your steps back to the Turkey Pen Trailhead.

Directions

Travel I-26 south from Asheville to Exit 40. Turn right off the exit onto NC 280. Continue 11 miles on NC 280. Just past Boyleston Creek Baptist Church, near the Transylvania/Henderson County Line, turn right onto Turkey Pen Road. Turkey Pen Road is a narrow, uneven dirt road and is not recommended for cars without good clearance. The road conditions improve after you reach the national forest boundary, and after 2.3 miles the road dead-ends at the Turkey Pen parking area and trailhead.