Today Shooter and I headed up Wayah Road, in Macon County, NC, for the first time since wildfires devastated the area about a month ago. It was surreal driving up and seeing charred trees and earth on one side of the road, while houses stood untouched on the other. What comes to mind is the incredible effort it must have taken on part of the firefighters and Forest Service personnel to maintain that line and keep the properties along the road safe.
The destination was a small trailhead off of FS 69, the road that leads to the famous Wayah Bald Tower, which also partially burned in the wildfires. I’m not going to go into detail about how to get TO this trailhead (click HERE for a website that gives driving directions). The trailhead is small and not paved.
Starting Your Hike
The entrance to Shot Pouch Trail, as well as Appalachian Trail access from this trailhead, is gated. You walk around the gate and pretty much immediately cross the Appalachian Trail which is blazed white. Stay straight and you’ll walk through one end of a grassed wildlife clearing. Just past the clearing, an old roadbed leads up to the left. Don’t take that turn! It dead ends a few hundred feet further on in another wildlife clearing. There was also evidence of recent camping there today: a small stone fire pit with a wood collection next to it and of course someone had left toilet paper behind a tree (don’t do that!!).
Instead, continue straight ahead down the old logging road. The road is wide and mostly clear of rocks, roots, and vegetation other than a few grasses. You’ll travel this road bed the entire way – this is Shot Pouch Trail – but it is not blazed. In total it’s about 3/4 of a mile from the gated entrance to the clearing at the end where powerlines cut through the mountainside.
The Hike
About halfway there you’ll pass a small cascade – this is Shot Pouch Creek, where the trail gets its name from. Shooter chose to stop here for a drink and to get his paws muddy.
I guess it isn’t a hike until the dog is dirty. This trail has a little elevation gain, especially toward the end of the hike, but it’s nothing to worry about.
You’ll climb a bit and come around a turn toward the end where you’ll be able to see the powerlines ahead of you. This is the end of the hike. The view is not incredible, though it is nice. The biggest annoyance is that the powerlines dissect the view, making any photographs less than spectacular.
The hike ends here. Beyond the powerlines is another clearing, this one dominated by 5-6ft tall briars and weeds that make crossing it difficult. If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a geocache (Shot Pouch Creek Trail) up here that is easily found (if not easily accessed). When you’re finished enjoying the views or hunting for treasure, head back down the way you came back to the trailhead. The total mileage for this hike is about 1.5 miles. I do not have elevation information.
Considerations
Hunters
I did this hike in December, which is hunting season. I’d recommend wearing bright if not blaze orange colors and be on the watch. If you have a dog with you, make sure the dog is extra visible as well. I ran into a hunter parked at the trailhead. As I walked toward the gate, he yelled out the window that “I really wasn’t supposed to be doing that.” I turned and asked, “doing what?” thinking he meant hiking – I was fairly certain the trail was NOT closed but thought maybe he knew something I did not. He said “you shouldn’t have your dog running around off leash like that.” I told him that dogs are not required to be leashed on National Forest land (link HERE to information on these rules) and that I was heading down the hiking trail. He proceeded to tell me there were hunters back there, and he wouldn’t want me or my dog to get shot. I thanked him for the concern, but told him that I had right to utilize the public hiking trails, with my dog (off leash), and that I would be cautious as I continued my hike.
It is my belief that if hunters are utilizing trails on public property to access hunting areas, they must take responsibility and be knowledgeable of the foot traffic in the area. I take precautions such as wearing bright colors/blaze orange and have my dog do the same and recommend you follow these precautions as well when hiking on public lands during hunting season.
Pets
This trail is pet friendly. Since it’s on national forest land, dogs do not have to be leashed although I highly recommend keeping your dog on a leash unless you’ve done proper training and have reliable voice control of your dog around wildlife and/or other people.
Families
This trail is family friendly due to the wide, clear nature of the path and high level of visibility. Small children should be able to easily handle the walk and elevation gain. Seniors with difficulty breathing may have trouble toward the end.
Adventure Like A Girl 
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