Kimsey Creek Trail

Highlights

•  Gorgeous hiking trail through a forest canopy of native hardwoods and creekside Rhododendrons 
•  Easy hike 
•  Great for the entire family including seniors 
•  Some of the best fishing/camping in the area 
•  Connected to two campgrounds and and multiple hiking trails

The Local Scoop

Once you arrive at the free parking and the Backcountry Info Kiosk you'll see the sign for Park Creek Trail, Park Ridge Trail and Kimsey Creek Trail, take this trai for appox. 0.3 mile. It comes out in the main campground, once there go Left just over the bridge that crosses the Nantahal River and then an immediate Right. You'll see another brown trail sign with "Lower Ridge", "Kimsey Creek Trail", "Park Creek Trail" and "Park Ridge Trail". Take this trailhead for approx. 0.1 mile to an intersection of trails. There will be an older wooden sign with Kimsey Creek Trail etched into it pointing Left. This is Kimsey Creek Trail and it will run for appox. 0.6 mile up past an ampitheater and through part of the main campground. When you get past the ampitheather you'll be on the 3rd "loop" of the campground. Go about 150 yds and cut through the small field that bisects a couple of campsites to "loop 4". Stay on this part of Loop 4 for about 100 yards until you come to an intersecting road, this is the entrance to Kimsey Creek Group Camp. Do not cross the creek and stay up the Right hand side, passing the fire pit and picnic table ahead of you. You'll pick the obvious trail back up just past this campsite. You'll know you're in the right place because Kimsey Creek will be flowing below the trail. This trail is 3.7 in total length, one way. We recommend this trail to the entire family and is a great trail for seniors in good health due to the fact that it has a lot of flat terrain. Enjoy this trail in the Summer months as the sun beats down, illuminating the canopy of hardwoods above.

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 close to a bridge over the Nantahal river, go over bridge and to the Right. Follow this trail along with Park Creek Tr. & Park Ridge Tr. until you come 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).