Caudill Cabin via the Basin Creek Trail 10 miles strenuous

Doughton Park is the largest recreation area the National Park Service manages on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is on the border between Wilkes and Alleghany Counties in North Carolina. Renew your senses amid this landscape of open meadows.

Please join me for a challenging but beautiful hike up to Caudill Cabin in the Doughton Recreation Area. We’ll take the Basin Creek Trail which follows the path many people took 150 years ago to the Basin Cove Community. In 1916 a flood roared through the valley wiping out the community except for Caudill Cabin, which stands at the end of the trail. Along the way we’ll pass by 2 waterfalls, see historical remnants of the Basin Cove community, and cross many streams. While we usually look forward to a distant view or pretty waterfall, on this hike our reward is an intact and restored Caudill Cabin at the top end of our hike.
This is a 10-mile hike with 30+ stream crossings. We will try to maintain a pace of about 30-35-minute mile up hill with stops to catch our breath and check out the sites. Most crossings are rock hoppable, but your feet could get wet, and probably will. For a day hike, we could just hike in wet boots, then be sure to have dry shoes back in the car. The trail is in the shade for most of the hike.
Distance: 10 miles round trip, with a 1,840’ accumulated elevation. Pack plenty of food and water. We will stop for lunch.

Pack trekking poles as the decent is steep.

There are no restrooms at the trailhead. We pass some restrooms about 40% into the hike if they are open.

Afterwards we can go to local brewery in Elkin - Angry Troll is always good. See you there!

##### Robin