Directions

From Asheville, North Carolina

1. Head east on S Pack Square (154 ft)
2. Turn left onto N Pack Square (289 ft)
3. Turn right onto Broadway St (0.3 mi)
4. Slight right onto the Interstate 240 W/U.S. 70 W ramp to U.S. 74 Alternante (0.2 mi)
5. Merge onto I-240 W/US-70 W
   Continue to follow I-240 W
   (1.5 mi)
6. Keep right at the fork to continue on I-26 E, follow signs for Interstate 240 W/Interstate 26 E/Interstate 40 (5.1 mi)
7. Take exit 33 for NC-191 toward Blue Ridge Parkway (0.2 mi)
8. Turn left onto NC-191 S/Brevard Rd (2.0 mi)
9. Turn right onto Bent Creek Ranch Rd (0.3 mi)
10. Slight left onto Wesley Branch Rd (2.1 mi)
11. Keep right to continue on Bent Creek Gap Rd (0.2 mi)
12. Turn right (33 ft)
13. Slight left (105 ft)

This connector trail is in what is popularly called the Bent Creek area, near Lake Powhatan Recreation Area. Leaving the Pisgah District Ranger Station/Visitor Center parking lot, turn left (south) onto US 276. At the first traffic light, turn left (east) on NC 280. Proceed approximately 12.5 miles, to NC 191 north. Turn left (north) onto NC 191, and then proceed 7.7 miles to Bent Creek Ranch Road (SR 806), which is ½ mile north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, signed for the Recreation Area and at a traffic light. Turn left on Bent Creek Ranch Road and proceed approximately 1½ miles to the Hardtimes parking area, on the left in front of a road gate. The trailhead is beyond the gate, about 200 feet from the paved road, on the left side of the gated (dirt) road. Courtesy of fs.usda.gov