Driving Route:

     The  trailhead for this hike is located at the Back Country Information Board (BCIB) near the Standing Indian Campground area.  To get there, drive out US 64 west and turn left on Wallace Gap Rd (“Old 64”),  then turning right on Forest Service Road 67.  Three miles will bring you to the BCIB.  Note that you will not bear right into the campground. 

Notes about the trail and trail guide:

    Be sure to have hiking boots and walking stick  for this trail.   Bring water, do not drink from creek.

    This trail begins hiking along the Park Creek  Trail by the Nantahala River.  Then, it will climb a short ridge and dead-end into a trail where you turn left.  When you reach a logging road, turn right and travel on it for about 5 minutes.  In a large clearing, this road will turn left, Kimsey Creek trail is the barricaded road to the right.  It will have blue blazes.    This is a peaceful trail but with no great spots of beauty (no steep climbs, either), but it is a nice hike to get used to the mountains.  There are several splits in the trail, but it is well blazed.  There is a good photo op about 45 minutes out where the trail and creek merge.

    About  1:07 out on the trail there is a thing that I call a  “wheel drum” because it looks a little like one.  I have no idea what it is, but do know that it is in one of the most beautiful camping spots I have seen.  Notice how the creeks almost surround the spot.  This place is filled with enormous energy, and probably was regarded as a sacred place by the Cherokees

    At the Deep Gap parking lot, you will intersect the Appalachian Trail which leads up to the summit of Standing Indian Mountain.  That’s about 1:30 minutes up and another 1:30 to get back to  the parking lot.  Or, you might want to climb to the summit and then  return to the BCIB via the Lower Ridge Trail, about 1:40 on a very steep trail that drops about 2,100 feet.  Another trail guide describes that Loop Hike.

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Time        Observation

        SOUTH (outbound):

    Cross bridge, on FS 424, turn right at sign, and follow three trails until you reach the Kimsey Ck. Tr. intersection, Turn left, climb up ridge to dead end at big grapevine and turn left.

    :10    4 WD road

    :13    Pump house on your right

    :15    Beginning of the Kimsey Creek Trail at the closed road with barrier and blue blazes.

    :20     Bridge #1

    :25     Meadow.  Keep right at split.

    :30     Meadow.

    :34     Pool in creek.

    :38    Road - Bridge #2, Meadow.

    :42    Rough trail leads to Bridge #3

    :47    Trail and creek merge

    :50     Ridge Crossings

  1:00    Tree Bridge above

  1:07    Fire ring with wheel drum

  1:18    Large fire ring at road

  1:20    Cross road

  1:30    Switchbacks

  1:37    Campground and Deep Gap Parking Lot.

        NORTH(return to trailhead):

    :14    Cross road

    :25    The wheel drum

    :45    Tree cut with chain saw

    :50    Trail and creek merge

    :55    Bridge #3

  1:05    Bridge #2

  1:20    Bridge #1

  1:26    End of Kimsey Ck Tr.  Turn left on road

  1:30    Left turn off road

  1:40     Great Big Grape Vine.  Turn Right here!

  1:43    Park Creek/Park Ridge Intersection.