Yancey Hiking & Outdoors

Trail info:
Length: 3.6 miles to the end (7.3 miles out and back), but can be hiked to any length
Region: Hot Springs
Duration of Hike: 2.5 – 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 220 feet - sections of this hike that are extremely rocky and rooty
Blazes: No (Some things say Yellow)
Facilities & Parking: Small parking area on the side of the road, no facilities
Features: Kid Friendly, Pet Friendly, Wild Flowers, Open Trail

Meetup Location: Roses Parking lot in Burnsville. There is not a lot of parking at the trailhead. It will be better if we can carpool. Let’s meet in the parking lot close to Burger King.
From Burnsville, this is about a 43-mile, one hour drive.
Meet at 8:15am and we will leave the parking lot at 8:45am sharp.

Directions for those Driving
Please consider carpooling if at all possible. Parking is very limited.
We will meet at the trailhead at 10am and head down the trail by 10:15.
Nearest Address:
5150 NE US 25/70 Hwy, Marshall, NC 28753
(Laurel Branch Store – permanently closed – Just across the bridge.)
If you cross over the Laurel River Bridge on US 25-N/ US 70-W, you have gone too far.
Parking: There is a small gravel parking area on the side of the road where the trail begins.
GPS Coordinates
N35.912774, W82.756868

What To Expect
Bring snacks and water for the hike. After the hike, those interested can enjoy lunch together at Spring Creek Tavern in Hot Springs.
The trailhead for Laurel River Trail is located on a gravel road through private property. Take the trail, an old railroad bed, down through the woods, passing an abandoned rail car on the left (it’s private property, so respect the privacy of the landowners and keep away. The first mile of the trail is through private property.) Big Laurel River (Creek) will be on your right. The trail is 3.6 miles. It enters Pisgah National Forest at the 1-mile mark. For families with small children, this can be a good place to turn around. If you continue on, about ¾ of the way down the trail you might see the remains of the old logging town of Runion once serviced by the railroad that came through here. When you get to the end of the trail, you’ll actually encounter an active railway.
This is a relaxing out-and-back trail that follows the breath-taking Laurel River on an old railroad bed. The trail is mostly flat and tree-covered. There are quite a few rapids and trout pools along most of the route. There are sections of this hike that are extremely rocky and rooty. Despite the trail being very flat you will need to pay attention to where you’re stepping. The hike begins with a gentle decline down to the Laurel River; follow the yellow blazes. The trail hugs the Laurel River and takes hikers along steep cliff sides and through tunnels of rhododendrons. Anglers commonly wade into this section of the river to try their luck at catching trout. The Laurel River is also ranked as Class III/IV rapids. Kayakers and white-water rafters can occasionally be seen enjoying the flow.
The trail continues to follow the river and at times rises high above the water allowing for dramatic views of the rapids. There are many locations along the trail to access the river and enjoy the water. At 3 miles down the trail, the path narrows and can become overgrown. If you plan on hiking the whole trail it is recommended to wear long pants.
At approximately 3 miles into the hike, large ruins and stones briefly dot the trail, which are the remains of the 1920s logging community known as Runion. The trail itself is where the log railroad used to be.
Just past the ruins, the Laurel River passes under a railroad bridge and finally meets the French Broad River. This is a great place to relax, drink some water and have a snack before turning around and continuing back on the same trail.

Leave No Trace Tip
Wildlife make their home under the rocks along the river. Preserve their habitat by leaving rocks where they are. Removing rocks to build a cairn (for example), may prove fatal for the sensitive wildlife who call these spaces home.