Two weeks ago, we drove around the north and east sides of Richland Creek Wilderness to break in the new car
and look for parking places from which we could anticipate future hiking adventures (see: 154 Wilderness Cruise). Today we’re going back to complete the loop and find parking along
the west and south sides of RCW.
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@ Moore CCC (9/2020)
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We’ll begin in the same place as last time: the northwest corner of RCW, 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 and this island may be a part of it, I have seen
parked cars here a few times, if you do decide to park here don’t leave
any trash. Nothing brings out the ‘No Trespassing’
signs quicker than an inconsiderate slob.
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pig wallow west of the wilderness (10/2024)
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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
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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.
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R.A. Rosamond 'she hath done what she could'
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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.
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old roads can be good for hiking (10/2024)
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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.
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watch your step in the wilderness (10/2024)
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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.
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Jack Jones west of the wilderness (4/2024)
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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.
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Richland Creek outside the wilderness
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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
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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, UPDATE the RV is gone and the area is clean.
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FR1203C (11/2025)
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This formerly trashy spot has parking (35.79362, -93.00754) for five or more, see: (208 Sugar Tree Knob) for my adventure up FR1203C and beyond to Sugar Tree Knob. 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)
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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 near Moore (4/2020)
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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 Trail (see: 67 Moore CCC). |
House in Moore (4/2020)
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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)
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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.
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live bench along OHT (4/2024)
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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.
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building at Moore CCC (10/2024)
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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
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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 OHT Ben Hur Trailhead with parking (35.7537, -92.9823) see: (172 Ben Hur to Jack Jones) for a hike south of RCW. We drive back out to NC 5050 on the much
wider FR1203D. |
going east on the OHT
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Continuing south the OHT soon crosses the road, but no parking here and
then more private property (see: 178 Ben Hur to Moore CCC). 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.
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OHT southwest of RCW (1/2025)
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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.
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winter above Richland Creek (1/2025)
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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 Stump Mountain Trail).
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rugged Richland (1/2025)
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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)
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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.
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