157 Wilderness Cruise II

    Two weeks ago, we drove around the north and east sides of Richland Wilderness to break in the new car and look for parking places from which we could access the wilderness (see: 154 Wilderness Cruise).  Today we’re going back to complete the loop and find parking along the west and south sides.

@ Moore CCC (9/2020)

    We’ll begin in the same place at the northwest corner, the large parking area (35.8415, -93.99423) I call ‘the triangular island’.  There is a lot of private property all around this northwest corner of which this island may be a part of, I have seen parked cars here a few times, if you do decide to park here just don’t leave any trash.  Nothing brings out the ‘No Trespassing’ signs quicker than a few inconsiderate slobs.

    I’m curious to see just how often we’ll find parking down this west side, which is far less popular with visitors than the other side of the wilderness.  We drive south staying on NC 5070, about a mile and a half we find a parking spot (35.82539, -93.00077) at an old road down the steep hillside into Rock House Hollow.  Just about a quarter mile further at an intersection to the right is Rosamond Cemetery on the left.

park like Rosamond Cemetery

    Rosamond Cemetery with lots of parking (35.82388, -93.00562) seems to have two distinct separate sections; to the north and within a nice decorative fence are Rosamond family members, to the south is the Riley family without fencing.  Across the road is Daniel Mountain Road or FR 1200B with an off the road parking spot (35.82422, -93.00586).

little Maggie may you rest in peace

    I walk a little way on Daniel Mtn. Rd. which seems to get some vehicular use and is in good shape (at least here at the start), looking at the map this road is about a mile and a half to the end of Daniel Mountain, the road stays close to the top and appears to be a nice hiking route.  We continue south to the next road intersection.

    This old road FR92749F looks like an ATV trail, is pretty overgrown and is very steep at least here at the top, this road apparently provides good hiking access all the way down the mountain to Falls Branch.  There are also a couple tight spots here at the top for meager parking (35.81696, -93.01132).  Just over a quarter mile further is the next old road also to the west.

    We park right here at the road intersection (35.81358, -93.01518) and take a walk up the road, which is FR92749O, in about 200 yards is a nice parking/turnaround spot (35.81381, -93.01678).  Not much further is a road intersection with FR92749M, we turn right and head north maybe 100 yards more to a nice little campsite at the end of a small field where there once stood a house.

    Back to the car we continue south and soon come to another traffic island where NC 5050 meets NC 5070, but there's no parking on this island.  We go right at the fork, which is NC 5070 heading to Lurton, this road has more names than Carter has liver pills. We don’t go far pulling in at a forest service steel gate signed ‘Road Closed’ with parking (35.80688, -93.01685) for four or five if parked end to end, this is the other end of FR92749O.

    Maybe a hundred yards farther on NC 5070 is a pull off parking area (35.8065, -93.0177) and campsite with some stone remains of a homesite along with some hiking potential.  We turn around and head back to the island and go south on NC 5050, in about 300 yards is a small parking (35.80567, -93.01496) area for maybe two cars on the right.

    From here NC 5050 is on a ridge between the two major forks of Meeks Hollow and is all downhill to the little concrete bridge over Richland Creek, we find eight parking spots along this stretch of road.  The first (35.8243, -93.01335) is at the side of the road, then parking for three to four (35.7964, -93.01057) with a desperation campsite.

still waiting at the desperation campsite

    Under a quarter mile more at a curve to the south where an old road FR1203C heads east is a locked gate that is easy to miss, the wilderness boundary follows the north side of this old road almost two miles to a 60-acre parcel of private property.  Therefore, although it’s tempting, no parking at this gate.  We keep going south to a big open area with an old RV and scattered junk.

    This trashy spot has parking (35.79362, -93.00754) for five or more, and just past that another good-sized parking (35.79271, -93.00748) area with room for four or five.  The next spot is on the left (wilderness side) (35.78789, -93.00356) and has pretty good access off either side of the road to both major forks of Meeks Hollow down below.

in Meeks Hollow (5/2013)

    Another half mile down the hill is another parking spot (35.78092, -92.99779) on the left also having good access to Meeks Hollow, then parking (35.77843, -92.99612) on the side of the road provides Meeks Hollow access near the confluence of the two major forks.  Under half a mile further is Sugar Gap Road (FR1203B) on the left, marked by an old mailbox.  Here at the intersection (35.77653, -92.99044) is enough room for 3-4 cars to park.

Richland Creek from concrete bridge (4/2020)

    Sugar Gap Road crosses Meeks Hollow then up the steep rocky hill (4-wheel drive and high ground clearance recommended), see: (107 Sugar Gap Road...) for parking and hiking options up the road further.  We stay on NC 5050 to the next road west just before crossing Richland Creek, this is FR1200A or FR92741A better known as CCC Road. Under 200 yards on the left before getting to the locked gate is parking (35.77287, -92.98907) for just a couple cars and the Moore CCC/OHT Spur Trailhead (see: 67 Moore Civilian Conservation Corps).

House in Moore (4/2020)

    Back out on NC 5050 we cross Richland Creek on the concrete bridge with a view upstream of a beautiful riverside bluff.  Now in private property the road heads uphill passing first a good-sized house that is starting to look very neglected and past that an old barn that has collapsed.  A little farther up the hill an old log home next to the road is wrapped in the once popular and cheap rolled asphalt siding with fake brick motif, this place is also in poor condition.

log home in Moore (4/2020)

    Now back in the National Forest and continuing uphill in a sharp turn to the right is a water drainage diversion channel where I parked once (see: 116 Jack Jones, Rose...) but I wouldn’t try parking here now.  Incidentally many of the graded drainage channels we have passed today look flat enough to park on, but I would always check it out first on foot to be sure it’s firm and solid before parking.

    Just up the road is a wide spot (35.77004, -92.98321) where parking is possible, then another small pull off spot (35.7677, -92.98326).  Nearing the top of the hill the road levels out then another place to park (35.76165, -92.97853) be sure to stay north of the small national forest boundary sign as private property is south.

    After passing a collapsed barn on the right then an abandoned white two-story house on the left we come into Moore, past the road on the right up to Moore Cemetery is a large public parking area on the left (35.75451, -92.97907) it's a good place to park if you want to explore Moore or walk up to visit the cemetery.

Ben Hur Trailhead

    Across the street a road FR92094C heads up the hill, this is pretty narrow, so some new pin-stripping is probably inevitable if you go this way.  At the top is a 4-way crossroad with FR1203D which is a much better road, and on the right the Ozark Highlands Ben Hur Trailhead with parking (35.7537, -92.9823).  We drive back out to NC 5050 on the much wider FR1203D.

going east on the OHT

    Continuing south the OHT soon crosses the road, but no parking here and then more private property.  At the next road we turn left, this is NC 5052 and not a bad road, but it can be a little confusing.  Just keep heading east until you come to a little farmhouse on the left and little barn on the right, turn left here on NC 5051.  Now going north, the road gets progressively worse, especially after turning to the east where county maintenance ends (now designated as FR1203A), this road is basically one big mud hole after another.

    At a small sign that says ‘Twin Falls’ is FR92093C quite narrow and more mud, most cars with decent ground clearance might make it.  It’s about 750 feet to where the OHT crosses the road.  There’s parking (35.75244, -92.96103) and turnarounds both before and after (35.75298, -92.96094) the OHT crossing.  And although the road keeps going, we turn around and head back.

    Back out on FR1203A it’s more of the same (mud holes), after a curve to the north there’s a fork in the road where we keep left.  About 300 yards later the OHT crosses the road with parking (35.75342, -92.95376) and turnaround spots.  Continuing up the road now along the powerlines and more mud for maybe a quarter mile is the Stump Mountain Trailhead.  Here is lots of parking (35.75537, -92.95112) beneath the powerlines and a nice big campsite (see: 107...and Stump Mountain Trail).

    East of the campsite a hundred feet or so the road plunges off the mountain top beneath the powerline, with a great view down all the way to Falling Water Creek, the wilderness boundary is a few feet north of the cleared utility easement.  The road continues at least part way down, it looks more like a horse trail from here, and may provide access to Upper Horsetail Falls or the OHT for a possible loop hike.

Upper Horsetail Falls (3/2021)

    Here we end today’s driving adventure, this the south side of Richland Creek Wilderness is by far the least accessible, and if you can overlook the powerline, it really feels like you’re in the wilderness.  Between these two Wilderness Cruise blog posts (see: 154 Wilderness Cruise) I believe we have listed coordinates for all the parking spots, that said there are many other un-listed wide spots on the roads where parking is possible.