Highlights

•  One of two creeks in this area that are designated "Wild Natural Bait" 
•  Nice population of Wild Brown and Rainbow Trout 
•  Kimsey Creek Trail follows the creek 
•  N.C. Wildlife Valid License required 
•  Limit of 4 fish with a minimum of 7 inches per 
•  Partolled closely by wildlife management

The Local Scoop

We recommend Kimsey Creek to the Wild Trout lover. This small creek can produce some of the most gorgeous fish around. Once you've made it to the Group Camp and you've gone up the Right hand side of the creek and pass the picnic table and firepit, you'll see and hear Kimsey Creek to your Left. Continue on the trail that will take you to an old logging road that runs beside the creek. Take this old roadbed until you come to a footbridge that crosses the creek beneath you at about 0.4 miles. We recommend getting in here. This creek is designated as "Wild Natural Bait" waters. You can only keep 4 fish at a minimum length of 7 inches. However, using natural bait will help with your ability to catch some gorgeous and Wild Brown Trout. There are a lot of fish in this creek and as you work your way upstream, the better your chances are. Please keep this beautiful area clean, and if you see trash please pick it up. What a beautiful creek that runs almost all the way to Deep Gap on the Clay Co./Macon Co. line. Remember to get your N.C. Wildlife Fishing License before your trip. We recommend using either a nymph fly tipped with a wax worm or try your luck at spinner fishing. Traditional fly fishing isn't ideal in this stream due to the overhang of Rhododendron from the creek banks.

The Local Directions

From intersection of U.S. Hwy-64 W and U.S. Hwy-23/441 North in Franklin take Hwy-64 W towards Murphy, NC for 12 miles. At just before the 12th mile you should see a Brown sign for "Wallace Gap", "Appalachian Trail" & "Standing Indian Campground" with arrows pointing you towards West Old Murphy Road(SR 1448) on your left. Stay on W.Old Murphy Rd. for 2 miles. You'll pass a Nantahala National Forest Sign for the campground saying "500 Ft Ahead", and at 2 miles you'll be at FR (Forest Road) #67 to your Right (indicated by a small, skinny Brown sign at the beginning of the road). Continue 1.8 miles on FR 67 until you come to a fork in the road. To your Right will be the entrance to "Standing Indian Campground", avoid the Right and continue on FR 67 to the left. In about 0.3 miles the road will turn to gravel at the Backcounrty Info Kiosk. Park here, it's free. Trail starts at Backcountry Kiosk on F.R. 67 and comes out in the campground, over bridge and to the Right. Follow this trail along with Park Creek Tr. & Park Ridge Tr. until you come to a sign for Kimsey Cr. Trail that cuts back to your Left at around 0.3 mile. You'll come out beside an ampitheater, through some campsites (keep to the Right once in the campground, cut across a small field between campsites and into kimsey Cr. Group Camp. Once there, don't cross the creek, but stay up the right side group camp until you pick the trail up again (past the picnic table and fire pit).

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Distance From

FROM (Town): Franklin, 16.7 miles HIKE: 0.4 mile (via KimseyCrTrail-Easy)

Coordinates

35.06645, -83.53985

Address

Franklin, NC 28734

County

Macon County

City

Franklin