I had every intention of hiking on my day off, but was a little leery when I awoke to a dusting of snow that we had received during the night. I checked the weather and it called for 2-4 inches throughout the rest of the day. I figured 2-4 inches wasn’t too bad and some fresh snow could add some variety to my photos. I decided to head out to Pisgah National Forest, an area of the Blue Ridge Mountains that I’m still exploring with great interest.
By the time I was on 280 heading to Brevard, I realized 2-4 inches had already accumulated and there was no sign of it letting up. The large, wet, puffy flakes were really coming down and the temperature was hovering right around freezing. By chance I got behind a couple of snow plows (seems like there are only two in the county) which made travel easier, but unfortunately the snow plows turned around at the Transylvania county line. I began to think that I was going to have some trouble getting to Pisgah National Forest without a snow plow entourage. My car, like most cars in North Carolina, is totally unequipped for snow travel. What’s the point? We hardly get any snow, at least not until this winter.
Turning on 276 and entering Pisgah National Forest confirmed my suspicions that the road had not been plowed and that travel would be difficult. Marissa and I slowly drove past the Ranger Station and decided to see if the Twin Falls trail head was at all accessible. It wasn’t, at least not without four wheel drive or a nice set of studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tires. Feeling a little defeated, we decided to park at the Ranger Station and walk around from there. We got this far and the snow was beautiful, so we might as well try to enjoy it. My GPS showed some trails on the other side of the Davidson River opposite of the Station. As it turns out, the trails on the GPS were part of the Davidson River Campground.
View Davidson River Campground in a larger map
The Davidson River Campground is built on a nice flat stretch next to the Davidson River. I’m sure it’s very busy in the summer due to its easy access. It is just about the first thing you see when entering Pisgah National Forest from 276 and is only a couple of miles from downtown Brevard. Although we didn’t see anyone camping when we where there, it looked like a typical car camping campground and I am sure it offers all the amenities you would expect from a this type of camping including hot showers, toilets and hook ups for RVs and campers. The campground offers convenient access to Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock and you wouldn’t be too far from Black Balsam and other great Blue Ridge Parkway sights.
Marissa and I had a leisurely walk on a snowy trail that followed the river and by the time we packed up to go home, 6 or 7 inches had fallen. It was serene and the snow provided some good photographic opportunities. I would have continued taking photos had my camera and I not become soaked by the wet snow.
Winter storm at Davidson River, Pisgah National Forest
A very snowy field in the campground
Curly vine along the Davidson River
Marissa under mountain laurel
