Page 12 - SMH 2018 3rd edition

by Kristi LeAnn Parsons

Looking for a 10-mile Adventure Day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Well… This could be the perfect adventure for you!

Western North Carolinas “Fairy Tale Trails”
It doesn’t happen every day, but it does happen. The day that you stumble upon a hike that makes you feel as if
you’ve found your way into a fairy tale. A hike that even begins with a quaint, secluded and mysterious cabin in a
beautiful – yet small meadow with apple trees bearing fruit on both sides. A place that will give you the oppor-
tunity to be a kid again and take a tree swing for a ride. You’ll find a day of exploring that later takes you to a spot
where you can rest in a hammock, kick back and relax. A resting spot with a never-ending sea of mountain ridges
and shadows ahead of you. Only to continue on your journey, past a mountain inn like no other and then to the
best picnic spot in the Smokies. A bald with not only breathtaking views of the intoxicating western North Caroli-
na mountains, but also to have the foreground of those views be beautiful horses. The best part? You’ll get to ex-
perience it all again as you hike back to the parking area. It doesn’t happen every day, but some days it does.
Some days you find a hike like no other and one that you must experience for yourself to truly understand its
charm.

How to reach this indescribable place?
You’ll begin this hike at the gate for Purchase Knob on Purchase Road. You’ll reach the gate by turning onto
Hemphill Road off of US-276 near Maggie Valley, NC. Hemphill Road will turn into Purchase Road. You can do
a Google Maps search for Purchase Knob for exact directions from your beginning location. Even if the gate is
open when you arrive, park at the gate. Due to the gate only being open for scheduled events at the Appalachian
Highlands Learning Center, you could very likely be locked inside of the gate when you return from your hike.
So… like all good things, a little extra work must come first. Once you’ve parked at the gate, you’ll need to walk
1.5 miles to reach the trail to the Ferguson Cabin. If you want to soak up the view from Purchase Knob and check
out the science center first, you’ll want to continue up the hill for another .5 miles. You will be able to see the Ap-
palachian Highlands Science Learning Center building from your junction with the Ferguson Cabin Trail to your
left. The learning center is located on Purchase Knob, do extra mile to enjoy the views from there as well as the
other stops along your journey.

Ferguson Cabin:
The first thing that I noticed on my first hike here was the gorgeous
apple tree, filled with perfect apples and yellow jackets. If you’re
allergic, just be cautious. You’ll be able to see the small cabin from
the apple tree. It’s small, quaint and charming. The cabin is the
highest cabin in the Smoky Mountains, at 4,700ft elevation. It was
built in the 1870’s and continued to be called home until around
1900. Think about that for a moment and imagine what life must
have been like during that time. Have a fresh apple snack, from an
apple tree that was planted in 1900.

12 Smoky Mountain Hiker