With over 90 miles of interconnected trails, DuPont is a fantastic place where new adventures abound. Conserving Carolina played an integral role in the creation of DuPont State Recreational Forest and has been adding land ever since, including the 717-acre Continental Divide addition completed in 2020.
This hike is part of Conserving Carolina’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 8, which takes you to 8 amazing hikes on protected land. Take the challenge to discover some great places!
Location: Cedar Mountain, NC
Length: 5.9 mile loollipop; round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 744′
Great For: Running, Walking, Mountain Biking, Wildlife, Views, Nature Exploration
How to Get There
Parking for this hike is located at the Fawn Lake Access off of Reasonover Road, 3051 Reasonover Rd, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718.
Click this link to Google Maps.
GPS users may use N35.160906, W82.604316.
The Hike
DuPont provides this trail map, which you can download or print before your hike. And, here is a link to AllTrails.
Below is a detailed look at the trails for this hike, taken from the most recent National Geographic map of the trails.
From the Fawn Lake Access parking lot, take Fawn Lake Road to the left. Then, pick up Mine Mountain Trail on your left (there is a new reroute that you will follow). At about 1.8 miles, look for Laurel Ridge Trail on your left. At 2.4 miles, stay on Laurel Ridge Trail, passing Corn Mill Shoals Trail on your left (you’ll loop back around to this spot on your return, it is the start of the lollipop). At 2.6 miles, Laurel Ridge Trail intersects with Corn Mill Shoals Trail. Turn left on Corn Mill Shoals Trail. At 3.4 miles, you will be back at Laurel Ridge Trail, turn right. At 4.1 miles, you will reconnect with Mine Mountain Trail, turn right. Finally, at about 5.7 miles, you will intersect with Fawn Lake Road, turn right for the return to the parking lot.
Trail Ethics in DuPont State Recreational Forest
- DuPont State Recreational Forest is open daily from 5AM to 10PM.
- Pets must be leashed and under control at all times.
- Remove all waste, including pet waste.
- Trails are multipurpose, so you may see hikers, bikers, and equestrians. Practice good trail-sharing etiquette.
- No e-bikes or motorized travel are allowed.
- Stay on the trail at all times.
- No camping or campfires.
- Areas or trails designated “No Entry,” “Do Not Enter,” or “Authorized Personnel Only” are prohibited to trail users.
- Alcohol and illegal controlled substances are prohibited.
- No collecting of any flora, fauna, rocks, or any other natural items.
- Park only in designated spots only.
How Conserving Carolina Helped Save DuPont
DuPont State Recreational Forest is a vast wooded wonderland bursting at its seams with spectacular waterfalls, scenic granite domes and inviting backcountry. An outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, it offers nearly 90 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails to explore its charming beauty. Rolling hills tucked between high mountains peaks host the upper reaches of the Little River and six of western North Carolina’s most stunning waterfalls.
Thanks to its beauty and accessibility, DuPont is among the state’s premiere outdoor recreation destinations. Among waterfall enthusiasts, DuPont’s falls consistently rank as the most impressive in all of North Carolina.
DuPont’s story represents a landmark achievement for land conservation in western North Carolina. With Conserving Carolina as the catalyst, the first 7,600 acres of what became DuPont State Recreational Forest was purchased by The Conservation Fund, then by the state of North Carolina, in 1996. DuPont has since grown to nearly 12,500 acres.
Over the years, Conserving Carolina has helped make numerous additions to the forest, including the new Continental Divide Tract, sometimes called the “missing link.” Completed in 2020, this addition connects DuPont to a conservation corridor that spans more than 100,000 acres along the North Carolina / South Carolina border, with exciting potential for future trail connectivity.
BECOME A MEMBER AND SUPPORT CONSERVATION!
Take the White Squirrel Hiking Challenge!
This hike is part of White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 8—an opportunity to explore eight great hikes, all in places that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect. Take all eight hikes and earn your White Squirrel patch!
