Palmetto Trail - Blue Wall Passage Loop(edit)

Overview

This is a moderate to strenuous out and back trail in Landrum Watershed.

Getting Started

This is really an out and back trail. Parking is somewhat limited but doable although I haven’t done the hike in the summer. It may be more crowded as there are two small lakes and a waterfall close by that many people seem to use to walk their dogs. We did the whole hike to Vaughn’s Gap. You can also add or delete the loop over to the falls.

The hike begins pretty easy with a paved road switching to a gravel logging road. About a mile in the trail veers away to the left off the logging road onto a more traditional trail. From there you ascend through nice woods crossing several creeks. This covers about 500’ of the eventual elevation gain. Things get steeper two iles in and then you hit some switchbacks for the last 1/4 mile or so. It is a nice view when the leaves are down but probably less so in the summer. We also ran across an old logging sawmill machine on the left half way up which was interesting.

At some point we plan to take this trail again and follow it further along the Palmetto trail. We added a mile or so this time but it is seven miles to the next pass according to the maps.

On the way down we surprised a beautiful coyote having a drink in a creak! That was cool.

The time and miles aligns with the app stats. All in all a nice hike and a decent challenge. I just wish we could have gone to the WSPA transmitter. Tower but it appears that road was closed to hikers.

Taking Children

Kids can do a lot. Having said that, this may be boring for some and fun for others.