Cedar Rock Mountain
Cedar Rock Mountain
Corn Mills Shoals access area is in DuPont State Forest just past the Hooker Falls and High Falls Access Areas. Turn left at the end of Staton Road on Cascade Lake Road. The Corn Mills Shoals Access Area is 0.8 miles on the right. The hike starts at the parking lot.
Cedar Rock Mountain is a 4.5 mile loop hike in Du{pnt State Recreational Forest. It provides wonderful mountain views and dramatic scenery. Cedar Rock Mountain contains some of the most exposed granite in western North Carolina. The area is a local favorite with both hikers and mountain bikers.
There are many connecting trails in this area, so you can easily extend your hike or ride. Trails vary from mostly flat to short but steep sections on the rock face.
Make sure you take directions with you because the signage is limited. From the parking area (Corn Mills Shoals), cross the road and proceed around the gate on the Corn's Mill Shoals Trail. Continue past Longside Trail (on the left). About 1/10 mile past the gate as the road curves right, turn left on Big Rock Trail, an old roadbed leading uphill. Continue up the steady grade about 1/2 mile until the trail leads across a series of granite slab with great mountain views. Continue forward and upward, looking for cairns (small rock piles) wherever the trail leads onto the granite.
After re-entering the forest, approach a much larger granite dome with excellent views west of Pisgah National Forest. At the top of this granite clearing, continue into the forest and around several turns until the path leads back onto a large, nearly flat granite area. This is a three-way intersection where Big Rock Trail terminates into Cedar Rock Trail.
Turn right on Cedar Rock Trail and hike southeast down the mountain. Continue to follow the cairns, stepping around the moss to protect it. The trail turns right into the forest, and then back out onto a sloping granite field with views toward Pinnacle Mountain and Stone Mountain. Follow the cairns through some trees and then back down a steeper granite incline.
Re-enter the forest and reach the Little River Trail. Turn right and cross Tom's Creek. Continue parallel to the Little River for about a mile (mostly level), then intersect with the Corn Mill Shoals Trail. Continue straight ahead (toward right) on Corn Mills Shoals Trail for about 3/4 of a mile to return to the beginning of your hike and the parking area.