Chestnut Mountain Road Runs

So no way at all to access crossroads mountain anymore? That sucks

 

Could boat in, I suppose. If you zoom way in on Google Maps you can see a white truck looking vehicle near the beach area that juts out southern-most point into Jocassee, so it seems like there has to be a way to get there, just probably not available to the public.

 

From what im Reading it's still open. Don't even need a code anymore. Maybe only open for hunting season though. Friend's dad used to go up to crossroads in the 90s, he said you could go many way because gates were never closed if there even was any back then. Could go from horse pasture all the way to muster ground through NC trails.


Found some cool old 70s pics of the area on ih8mud forum.

 

Some more info from that ih8mud thread. Maps from ranger station to bridge and to crossroads, plus a sign from the trail for direction.

Link to thread
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/gorges-state-park-chestnut-mtn-road.809280/

 

So it’s open or not?

 

Idk, probably have to make a phone call to someone. Gorges leaves the access open as far as I can tell. SC might have a gate but I don't know who would control it. It's that blue marked trail in the screenshots, this calls for an investigation. Lol, I would love to do it but don't know when I'd have time. Probably a 6 to 10 hour trip.

 

When I talked to them last I specifically ask about the 4wd road and they said it will be closed for a while.

https://www.ncparks.gov/gorges-state-park/trails

A section of the Auger Hole trail is closed to all traffic until further notice due to a massive landslide that has taken out all access not only to the public but to park staff.
The Auger Hole is open from the parking lot at Frozen Creek Entrance to where the Wintergreen trail breaks off Auger Hole Trail to the right. From that point on to Turkeypen Gap, the trail is closed and will remain closed until the trail is fixed.
The trail closure will be lengthy as park staff are evaluating and developing options to resolve the closure. For more information or updates call the park office at (828) 966-9099.

 

So I just got off the phone with gorges state park. Lady said chestnut road is open but she has no idea about the hunting lands status. NC wildlife will be the ones to talk to. She said she believes you can get most of the way to the iron bridge but not quite to it yet. Crossroads in way before the iron bridge Im pretty sure.

BUT, she also said there is access through badcreek. She didn't know how since it has nothing to do with gorges state park. But said since the land slides south Carolina has been working on an access point through bad Creek.

So guess I'll be calling SC DNR to find out.

 

Scdnr said office close due to state holiday today. :/

 

That would be bad ass if SCDNR and/or Duke had an access through Bad Creek. I mean, they do, but it's gated off. We do Musterground Rd with some regularity. It would be amazing to go in through Bad Creek and come out through Gorges SP.

 

That won't happen, large part of the auger hole road dispute was people entering gorges park unknown. Scdnr wanted an access from SC but gorges didn't want a different way into the park.

 

I dunno how SC would do that without building bridges. It seems to me that to get to that ... peninsula ... you'd have to cross into and then back out of NC.

 

Probably a temporary solution while the road to the park is out.

 

Found a good way to look at trails is gameland maps. Gorges dosent really know what's up because the closure is in the toxaway gamelands. They have installed a new gate on auger hole road maybe we can get down to bear Creek camp Rd. Check out https://powderhook.com/opportunities/toxaway-game-land can zoom in and look at roads.

 

After some more reading. the new gate will only be open for hunting season. NC agreed more than 10 years ago to allow access through auger hole Rd. Looks like this rock slide has forced NC wildlife to finish the plan. Next hunting season muster ground to auger hole should be open.

Also read about gorges park wanting to close chestnut mountain road to vehicles for future park improvements. Don't know how NC hunters would access toxaway gamelands but the south Carolina access easment to crossroads was said as the only thing holding it up. Wonder if we see that happen soon?

 

Probably not it's the government

 

So I was able to do some exploring yesterday, 5/15/19:



*GPX file attached
*Chestnut Mountain Road is open from Gorges to Turkey Pen Gap
*Auger Hole Rd is open from Turkey Pen Gap to the Horsepasture River Bridge. I ran into some NC Wildlife guys at the bridge and they have their heavy equipment back there right now working on the road and said that it should be open for hunting season.
*Both gates for Chestnut and Auger were closed at Turkey Pen headed in the other directions.
*Crossroads Mountain area is fully open. I was able to drive all the way down to the lake.
*Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JFYT9ZLiPgd9WNf57

 

Oh shit, I'll be doing that soon!!
@truckbeans Thanks for the update man!!

 

It was truly my pleasure, was a great day yesterday! Just a heads up, the last bit down to the lake is washed out. Pick your lines wisely!

 

Random drop in on my part.

Since you live in Sylva, I need you to send me some beer from the best brewery I have ever been to.