OCCASIONALLY IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE PLANNED HIKE AT THE LAST MINUTE. PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE ON THE DAY OF THE HIKE
TUESDAY OCTOBER 27, 2026
Description: CAT GAP LOOP TO JOHNNY ROCK
The forecasters say this is the place and time for very best colors for leaf peepers. It’s a bit further drive than normal, but so is Dupont SP. We’ll meet at Keowee Key Dog Park for a 8:30 departure. This will get us to the trailhead a bit before 10:00 and the 6 mile hike with 1100 ft elevation gain will take 3-4 hours. So should be back about 3:30. AllTrails hikers call it “moderate” and a hiker today only complained about “unleashed dogs”. The link below is our description of hike were we to take it from the Pisgah Inn (so if you don’t meet us at Keowee Key Dog Park use directions below to trailhead).
See link for more details.
Directions: (GPS: 35.28428, -82.79052) Gather and pool from Keowee Key Dog Park, depart at 830am. At the trailhead (Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, also a GPS coordinate) there is still construction on the fish hatchery but hikers say parking during the week should be fine.
Directions: Click here for direction
THURSDAY OCTOBER 29, 2026
Description: DODGE MTN to LONG MTN via the FT
Beginning near Dodge Mountain, this section of the Foothills Trail has two trail heads, A12 and A13, both along SC107. This provides for either a 5.5 or 8.5 mile round trip; south to, and back from the Fire Tower near Long Mountain. Personally, I’ll put my hand up for the shorter hike 🙂 The hike proceeds around Dodge, then across the valley on up to Long Mountain … a pleasant walk through mixed hardwood and pine forest with several small stream crossings. Total elevation gain is about 1200 ft, but with no steep climbs, making for generally easy to moderate going. Enjoy lunch and views at the fire tower.
See below link for complete details.
Directions: (GPS: 34.915770, -83.111933) (Long) or (34.9004671, -83.107894) (Short)
Gather as usual: Walhalla for a 9:00 departure. From there go 8 miles NW on SC28 and 6.5 N on SC107 to the trailhead at Cheohee Rd. Park there for the longer option. For the shorter option park roadside about 0.7 mi south along SC107. There are no fees and no facilities.
Expect to return by 2 or 3PM.
Directions: Click here for direction
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BRR Library
Planning to do some hiking on your own? You can borrow a book from our hiking library. The library offers many different books about hiking in NC, SC, and GA. From our home page click on “Resources”. The bottom half of the page lists the different books available. A big thanks to those who donated to the library: Nancy Carkhuff, Michael Gauderer, Bill Ebeling, and others. To request a book contact the librarian at: brrhiker@gmail.com.