WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
JONES GAP TO WHITEROCK MOUNTAIN
5.2 MILES OUT AND BACK
ELEVATION 4360’ JONES GAP/4494’ WHITEROCK MOUNTAIN
MODERATE
TIME- 4-6 HOURS
FOR THOSE HIKERS INTERESTED IN A HIKE WITH A MOUNTAIN TOP VIEW AND OPEN CLIFF FACES THEN THIS HIKE IS A DELIGHT. WE BEGIN ON THE BARTRAM TRAIL, A TRAIL THAT IS NAMED FOR THE 18TH CENTURY BOTANIST WILLIAM BARTRAM.
THE HIKE QUICKLY ASCENDS 300 FEET IN SLIGHTLY LESS THAN ½ MILE TO OUR FIRST PEAK, JONES KNOB, WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE PEACEFUL TESSENTEE CREEK VALLEY. GNARLED OAKS DRAPED IN MOSS ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE SUMMIT.
DEPARTING THAT SUMMIT WE WILL TURN OUR SIGHTS TO WHITEROCK MOUNTAIN AND MAKE OUR WAY FARTHER ALONG THE BARTRAM TRAIL. WE WILL PASS THROUGH OPEN WOODLANDS AND RHODODENDRON TUNNELS WEAVING OUR WAY TO THE TOP.
AS WE REACH THE SUMMIT OPEN CLIFF FACES GREET US. THERE BEAUTIFUL LONG RANGE VISTAS STRETCH ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. LEAVING THE SUMMIT WE HEAD BACK ALONG THE WAY WE CAME.
*PLEASE NOTE* THESE SUMMITS HAVE SHEER CLIFFS AND DROP OFF’S, WITH NO RAILINGS.
NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS ALLOWED WITHOUT A PARENT OR GUARDIAN