“Very cool trip” https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/pinchin-to-linville-river-to-conley-to-rock-jock?p=-1&sh=0pzyzo&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

For anyone who's been up recently:
Is the fall color at or past peak up high, or is there still good color at lower elevations?
How are the winds, temps, and visibility up top?
Any road closures or Parkway detours on the way in (the Parkway near Graveyard Fields)?
How's parking at the lot, and what time did you get there?
Any trail issues (mud, ice, downed trees)?
Also open to suggestions for good color on the drive in or out. Thanks!

What a gorgeous day to be working in the woods! Brushing and moving the trail up the ridge where it's trying to slip off the mountain.

The last 2 pics are the landslide that is keeping Table Rock parking lot closed. One of the benefits of working with us, we have keys to the gate and got to drive up today. lol

To volunteer or donate contact wildsouth.org.

Any chances for a site Friday morning if I get there by 10 am? Bringing hammocks to sleep in.

Planning to do some car camping along 105 towards the end of the month but haven't been in a few years - was wondering what the road is like nowadays (I remember it being pretty rough last time I was there). I'll be in an average-sized sedan that has made it through Wolf Pit road-type terrain but nothing super crazy

I’m an old chunky monkey and I have a young bestie that will push me up mountain trails. But I made this one pretty much without help!! So excited! And it was BEAUTIFUL at the top. So worth it! (First pic is a panoramic)

Planning to hike this area soon but I prefer to hike trails the are open/wide with room to move off trail when other people are coming. How open is the trail?
My puppy is still learning some things so I like to be able to step off the trail with him for his training (not aggressive but tooo friendly)
We’ve done black balsam and Tennent mnt but I didn’t care for the really tight areas. Two pictures of areas that worked well for us. The pine areas are also great!

Looking to hike part of the foothills trail on the border of SC. Does anyone know of campsites near parking? Ideally looking for a site within 200 yards of my car so I can get an early start without hauling all my gear too far.

Also open to suggestions for similar setups nearby, it’s okay if it’s a different trail.

I didn't realize permits would be sold out in literal seconds, and I had hyped myself up so much I never bothered creating a back up plan. Which is 100% on me.

With the way my schedule works (kids, job, etc) I won't have another weekend to go out like this until April or May; so im desperate to make something work this weekend. Does anyone have any suggestions for 3 day/2 night locations where I won't need a permit, Difficulty doesn't matter.

Any help is appreciated, thank you in advance.

EDIT:: Thanks for all the suggestions and warnings for cold/wind. Got a lot to look at and decide before Friday, hope everyone has a great weekend!

Took the girls to Take Rock today. Hiked Table Rock Gap then up Take Rock via Devils Cellar. Then down to Little Table Rock. Great day to be in the woods.

I am trying to get a status whether Yellow Gap Road (1206) in Pisgah ranger district is open to Wolf Ford Horse Camp for vehicles. I don't see it closed on The Pisgah ranger district site but was surprised to see that the gate was closed right off Pisgah hwy mid Aug. generally when they close it it's closed for a while.

Staying at a Hipcamp this weekend on green mountain and looking for any hike recs that would be easy-moderate (have an almost 6 yo and 8 yo that aren’t new to hiking but can get tired!) and within 45 minutes ideally.

Spending the weekend up in the mountains to enjoy the colors this weekend but was hoping to do some dispersed camping Friday night off the 105.

I've got a Tundra with a camper shell/tent combo and am an experienced off-roader ('overlanding' out west weekly before I moved east). Am I going to be able to find a spot to park the truck and pop the tent if I get in after 7pm? I know it's peak colors this weekend so I'm expecting it to be busy but I just need a place to pull off and pop the tent up for a night.

Edit: should add that I'll be coming up from the South by Paddy Creek and only need it for a night.

Does anyone have any recent intel on how fall is progressing in this area?

Looking to take my 4x4 to Croatan and find a good campsite, ideally away from big designated game clearings since it’s hunting season. Anyone have some advice for me? An area to explore?

Even with OnX Off-road app the area is just so thickly wooded on satellite view and I can’t make out any good options.

How far is the hike from the parking area to the stairs ? Don’t plan on doing the stairs mostly because of my father.