Down in
Trail Map
Dugger Valley: our star trail
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Dugger creek trailhead
trail map
spring confluence first falls otter cove camp rush knob five points trailhead
One of the many spectacular features of BRMC is the unsullied perfection of the 6,212 acres that make up this vast mountain land. That and the never-ending panoramic views and surprisingly stunning creek valleys of some of the most gorgeous mountain country in the world. And as stewards of this pristine land, it’s our job to cherish, cultivate, and treat it with the care it deserves.
shelter rock diving board falls
For most of our families, the first backyard adventure happens down in Dugger Valley. Its attractions are as intriguing as they are wondrous to stumble upon. Names like “Otter Cove,” “Sluice Falls,” and “Dog Hobble Lane” conjure images of places no human could have created. These magical spots we gladly take pains to get to, alone or together; escapes to meditate or reconnect in; play or have a picnic in, when nothing else will do but the completely calming, spiritually uplifting embrace of Mother Nature.
HEADWATERS 1 THE SECTION |
30 MIN
The Dugger Valley trailhead begins at Watson Gap, the heart of the community. After a steep walk in, the trail flattens and becomes an easy hike to the first sign of water in the creekway. This first section of the trail is an excellent way to experience the birth of a stream. Dugger Creek is spring-fed and its headwaters occur within the first mile of the trail.
Gear up & get out. BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB trailhead welcome center | 1116 Main Street | Blowing Rock, NC | 28605 828.295.8667 | www.BlueRidgeMountainClub.com
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FLATS 2 THE SECTION |
45 MIN
The Flats section is a long section of the stream where the trail becomes increasingly relaxed and the stream lazily flows through the mountain valley. The attitude is mellow, the valley and the landscape surround you, and there are numerous places to have a picnic by the stream, take a nap or set up a camp.
crescent moon plunge 2
the flats
Some of the most visited natural features at BRMC include Dugger Mountain, which boasts stunning scenery and 360 degree vistas; the Blue Hole for a refreshing dip in what we consider is the best natural swimming hole in the High Country; and Dugger Falls, to explore The Dugger Gorge and a spectacular 120’ waterfall with three different and unusual waterfall tiers.
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tombstone falls middle parkway trailhead
HATCHERY 3 THE SECTION |
45 MIN
This section is characterized by a long gorge with small falls terminating in pools. Each pool has a nice collection of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (Brookies). These brook trout are a very special breed and have been here since the Ice Age. This section of stream is revered as one of the best “wild streams” in the area.
GORGE 4 THE SECTION |
15 MIN
The Gorge section is the most dramatic on the Dugger Creek Trail. The Gorge is a very steep and narrow section of the trail where the rock formations are exposed and cliff-like. The falls cascade over 120 vertical feet and are made up of four distinct water features.
the narrows sluice falls
Whether you’re hiking, fishing or four-wheeling around the mountain on an ATV/UTV, Blue Ridge Mountain Club offers nearly every activity a true outdoors person could want. There are miles of moderately challenging trails, from the Nickajack to the Dugger, plus some lesser-known trails ripe for exploration.
longer pools log in bridge hoover dam the hatchery big rock falls
DUGGER 5 LOWER CREEK SECTION
the grotto upper dugger creek gorge
| 15 MIN
Dugger Creek below the falls has a very different characteristic compared to upper Dugger Creek. The stream is wider, carries more water and is less wild. Within this section is the old Boy Scout Camp which still has a pavilion that many use for overnight camping trips.
boy scout camp East ridge trailhead
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chicane falls dugger creek falls 5
If you’re an avid backpacker, mountain biker, horseback rider or ATV-rider, take a lunch or pack for the night and seek out the best locations or farthest reaches of the community on readily accessible multi-purpose trails that crisscross the property in all directions. BRMC has some of the best seasonal wild trout fishing in the High Country. The extraordinary habitat on Dugger and Laurel Creeks has helped preserve a sustainable hatchery of Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, which is zealously protected. Then, if you are looking for a more traditional trout fishing experience, Elk Creek, a delayed harvest stream stocked by NC Wildlife, borders BRMC’s southeastern boundary.
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SCALE 1:24 000
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KILOMETERS
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METERS 0
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THE BLUE HOLE
Laurel Cove
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DUGGER MOUNTAIN TRAIL
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DUGGER CREEK CAMP
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WEST RIDGE TRAIL
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Nickajack Trail
Campsite
Meadows Trail
Fishing 39
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Stream
Overlooks & Views
Paved Road
Parks
Paved Road Trail Connectors
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Firetower Road
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Meadows Trail Loop .................................... 2.6 mi East Ridge
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Start at and return to the Meadows Village.
Nickajack Trail Loop ................................... 2.2 mi
Moderate Difficult Moderate Moderate Moderate Difficult Moderate Difficult Easy Moderate Moderate Difficult Moderate Moderate Moderate Difficult Difficult Easy Moderate Difficult Moderate Moderate Difficult Difficult
WEST RIDGE TRAIL Li
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Little Horton Creek Trail Loop West ....... 9.7 mi
West Ridge
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Start at and return to Watson Gap Pavilion.
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DUGGER CREEK FALLS
the gorge section CREEK CLUB PAVILION
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WEST RIDGE TRAIL
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LOWER DUGGER CREEK CONNECTOR ug
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Little Horton Creek Trail Loop East ......15.2 mi
ELK CREEK GATE
Watson Gap Pavilion up Reynolds Parkway to Little Horton Creek Trail to Little Horton Creek Gate, left on Sampson Road and down to Buffalo Cove Road, left to Elk Creek/Triplett Road to BRMC Elk Creek Gate, up Reynolds Parkway and return to Watson Gap.
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lower dugger creek section
Little Dugger Creek
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Watson Gap Pavilion up Reynolds Parkway to Little Horton Creek Trail to Little Horton Creek Gate, right on Sampson Road and up to State View Road, up to BRMC State View Gate, down Reynolds Parkway and return to Watson Gap.
/Triplet t Road
Logging Trace/Future Trail
Structures & Buildings
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Elk Creek Darby Road Cr
(hiking, ATV, equestrian, & biking)
the hatchery section
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Ponds, Streams & Waterfalls
REYNOLDS PARKWAY
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Multi-Purpose Trail
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Elk C
Hiking Trail
Pavilion
Grapevine Gap
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Trail Section Divider
rating 7 8 4 7 6 8 7 8 3 5 6 9 5 7 6 9 8 3 5 8 4 7 10 10
FIVE POINTS
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Gate
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7.2 mi 2.7 mi 0.5 mi 4.0 mi 1.1 mi 9.2 mi 1.8 mi 1.0 mi 0.8 mi 0.5 mi 0.2 mi 1.0 mi 2.2 mi 5.6 mi 2.6 mi 4.6 mi 1.3 mi 1.0 mi 1.2 mi 0.3 mi 0.8 mi 1.0 mi 0.9 mi 0.7 mi
Watson Gap Pavilion down Reynolds Parkway, down Goldenrod Road, down Laurel Creek Connector, up Middle and Upper Laurel Creek Trails to Reynolds Parkway, down Reynolds Parkway to Watson Gap Pavilion.
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mileage
Laurel Creek Trail (Upper/Middle/Lower) Upper Laurel Creek Trail Middle Laurel Creek Trail Lower Laurel Creek Trail Laurel Creek Connector Reynolds Parkway Little Horton Creek Trail (Upper/Lower) Upper Little Horton Creek Trail Lower Little Horton Creek Trail North Face Trail Dugger Mountain Trail Blue Hole Trail Nickajack Trail West Ridge Trail Meadows Trail Dugger Creek Trail (All Sections) The Headwaters Section The Flats Section The Hatchery Section The Gorge Section Lower Dugger Creek Section Upper Dugger Creek Connector Middle Dugger Creek Connector Lower Dugger Creek Connector
Laurel Creek Loop ....................................... 7.8 mi
El
trail map key
trail
UPPER DUGGER CREEK TRAIL
GRAPEVINE GATE
Little
LITTLE HORTON CREEK GATE
Horto
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Watson Gap Pavilion down Dugger Creek Trail, up Lower Dugger Creek Connector, up Reynolds Parkway and return to Watson Gap.
MIDDLE DUGGER CREEK CONNECTOR
the flats section
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Dugger Creek Loop ....................................10.6 mi
EVENT LAWN
LITTLE HORTON POND
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REYNOLDS PARKWAY DUGGER CREEK TRAIL
LOWER LITTLE HORTON CREEK TRAIL
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The Meadows
Dugger Creek Valley
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West Ridge
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Watson Gap Pavilion down Reynolds Parkway to Blue Hole Trail, down Middle Laurel Creek Trail, up Laurel Creek Connector, up Goldenrod Road, up Reynolds Parkway and return to Watson Gap.
MEADOWS TRAIL
Elk C
Sam
C er
the headwaters section
DUGGER MOUNTAIN
CHETOLA SPORTING CLUB AT BRMC
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40
Blue Hole Loop ............................................. 3.2 mi g ug
UPPER LITTLE HORTON CREEK TRAIL 40
LOWER LAUREL CREEK TRAIL
rD pe
n Road
Blue Hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 mi Boy Scout Camp (via Dugger Trail) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 mi Boy Scout Camp (via West Ridge Trail) . . . . . . . . . 5.5 mi Boy Scout Camp (via Reynolds Parkway) . . . . . . . 5.6 mi Dugger Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 mi The Meadows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6 mi Chetola Sporting Club (via Reynolds Parkway). 1.9 mi
Watson Gap Pavilion up Reynolds Parkway to West Ridge Trail, down Lower Dugger Connector, up Reynolds Parkway and return to Watson Gap.
Up
Sampso
NICKAJACK TRAIL
PARKWAY OVERLOOK
Little Horton Creek Valley
distance from watson gap pavilion to:
West Ridge Loop .........................................10.4 mi
ELK & LAUREL CREEK CONFLUENCE
Road
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R View
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East Ridge
ek Ro ad
State
REYNOLDS PARKWAY
Parkway Ridge
STATE VIEW GATE
NORTH FACE TRAIL
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Elk Cr e
Little Horton Creek Gate ......... 3.2 mi Elk Creek Gate.......................10.8 mi
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loop trails: k
WATSON GAP VILLAGE
state view gate to:
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WATSON GAP PAVILION
Watson Gap
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Elk
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7000
Laurel Creek Valley
UPPER LAUREL CREEK TRAIL
North Face
6000
CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET NORTH AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM OF 1988
BLUE HOLE TRAIL
Blowing Rock . . . 6.5 mi Boone . . . . . . . . . 6.5 mi Blue Ridge Parkway Mile Post 288 . . . . . 1 mi
5000 FEET
MIDDLE LAUREL CREEK TRAIL
Laurel Creek
4000
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1
MILES
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LAUREL CREEK CONNECTOR
0.5
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trail definitions
ee Cr
Laurel Creek Valley
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el ur La
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0.5
1
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LAUREL CREEK CAMP 40
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68 ad wy 2 y Ro To H arb ek D e r C Elk
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Dugger Creek Headwaters Loop ............... 4.8 mi Watson Gap Pavilion down Upper Dugger Creek Trail, up Upper Dugger Creek Connector, up West Ridge Trail, down Reynolds Parkway and return to Watson Gap.
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