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Post by bubz on Apr 6, 2021 4:18:24 GMT -8
Hello to everyone. New member here. Plan on backpacking some of the northern section of the Tuscarora for a weekend trip. Starting at Waggoner gap hawk watch to Follows hollow state park. Trying to Get information on the parking availability overnight at the hawk watch. There website gives little info and no one answers the phone. Any help with parking and the trail would be great. Thanks
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Post by Coolkat on Apr 7, 2021 4:36:42 GMT -8
I can not help since I didn't even know that this trail existed. However, I'm glad you mentioned it. It will go on my list of short "long" trails.
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tomas
Trail Wise!
Posts: 1,906 
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Post by tomas on Apr 7, 2021 7:37:43 GMT -8
I've been eyeballing the Tuscarora for a long time now, but have never had the chance to hike it. Whatever you learn and write about here will be greatly appreciated.
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Post by bubz on Apr 10, 2021 3:47:35 GMT -8
Plan on making the trip in mid May. So I’ll report back on how it went. Still no luck on Waggoners hawk watch parking. Sure it will all come together before the trip. Thanks for the responses so far
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ki0eh
Trail Wise!
Posts: 47
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Post by ki0eh on Apr 17, 2021 4:44:37 GMT -8
Waggoners Gap hawk watch parking is gated off most of the time (probably illegally as they accepted state funding, but I digress). There are a couple of places to pull off just outside the gate and a couple more pull-off spots by a radio tower at the county line just south (trail-east or uphill). Probably either location would be a target for yee-hawers after dark. I'd suggest leaving the car overnight at the other end and somehow getting dropped off on this side if at all possible.
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Post by johntpenca on Apr 18, 2021 8:44:24 GMT -8
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Post by bubz on Apr 19, 2021 16:27:52 GMT -8
Thanks for the parking situation at Waggoners gap. I’ll properly take your advice and leave a vehicle at the state park and get a lift to hawks gap to start the trip. Heard there’s individuals and outfitters that give transportation for backpackers. Or there Uber
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Post by bubz on May 24, 2021 17:11:13 GMT -8
Reporting on my backpacking trip this past weekend on the Tuscarora. Started at Wagoners gap off RT 74 to Fowler's Hollow state park. First section of hike starts you on top of ridge that you follow for about 8 miles before dropping off the ridge and down into Wildcat run. When the guide book said it would be the rockiest section of the trail they were not lying. Extremely rocky and technical. There's a couple mile section where the blazes are hard to find, your better off to follow the boundary markers from the hunting club that owns the property on south side of the ridge. Camped first night along the Wildcat run. great creak that runs though there with clear water. Finding trees for my hammock was easy. As for my buddy to find flat ground with out rock was more of a challenge. He had to shirt the trail with he's tent. Day 2 took us up to Flat rock outlook. The only spot on the trip that we encounter day hikers to view the overlook. Then onto a thousand foot climb to the top of the next ridge. Following that for a couple miles before descending in to doubling gap. We camped at Laurel run creak. Great camp site to lay your head. Was woken up just before day break from what I first believed to be a bear cub climbing a tree next to me. turned out to be the biggest porcupine I've ever seen. I'll tell ya my heart was racing until my headlamp lite up those huge quills down its back. Day 3 finished off with 3 climbs. A medium then a small one up a ridge. Then a larger one up to the top of Amberson mountain and Fenton ridge. A very steep and rocky decent into Fowlers hollow to end are trip. 30 miles in total. Parked my truck at the park and had Mikes shuttle take us to Waggoners gap. Tuscarora is a trial less traveled and quiet. Only backpackers on that section of trail. Over all a great trip!
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