(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
An Adventure to Yellow Mountain
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2021/07 – July
Yellow Mountain rewards adventurous hikers with spectacular vistas.
Black lab Shabadoo atop Yellow Mountain
photo by Bowen Grove @bowen_grove
Serious hikers, lace up your hiking boots, pack your backpack with lots of trail-worthy snacks and water, and head to Yellow Mountain, one of the area’s most challenging trails, and one more than worthy of the effort.
At 5,127 feet Yellow Mountain is the tallest peak in the area.
The trail head starts on Buck Creek Road at Cole Gap and is easily recognizable by a National Forest Service sign. There are usually cars parked there, too, as the trail is a popular one.
Allow 4-6 hours to make the approximately 10-mile round trip. The total mileage sounds manageable to experienced hikers, but don’t be fooled, the route to this mountain peak is a roller coaster of ascents, descents, switchbacks and just enough level hiking to allow you to catch your breath.
The return trip is nearly as challenging as the ascent.
Yellow Mountain is your ultimate and most rewarding goal, but you’ll summit three additional peaks along the trail as well. First is Cole Mountain, a short distance from the beginning. Then comes Shortoff Mountain and hikers may well remember the challenging switchbacks to this summit as one of the most difficult portions of the trail. Here you’ve reached an elevation of more than 5,000 feet. From here the trail is a series of dips and climbs, passing Goat Knob, your third mountain peak, before arriving at your final destination, Yellow Mountain. Word of caution, on this final segment of the trail, pay careful attention to trail markers to make certain you remain on the right path.
The views from the summit of Yellow Mountain are stunning. The 360-degree view is one of the area’s most remarkable, and the layered view of distant mountains is awe-inspiring, especially when you climb the preserved historic fire tower located on the peak.
The tower was built in 1934 and was used until 1969, housing solitary fire watchers who scanned the surrounding forests for signs of smoke and acted as an early fire alarm system. The tower fell into disrepair until the mid-1980s when it was restored and listed on the National Historic Register.
