Do not miss going here!!!!The road to get there scared the daylights out of me in my little Honda, but I made it. Once you get to the trailhead get ready to be amazed. You will have a bit of a hike but once you get to the point you will be able to see a breathtaking scene. Also to the right of the trail there are some waterfalls but they are not easy to get to and rather dangerous. Please be careful as it is not unheard of from people to fall to their death being careless. However this is not something you should be concerned with, just practice caution.
We were driving to Fayetteville on our 6 day road trip and decided at the last minute that we should try to find this spot. Took us a lot of country roads to get here but worth it. That drive up the mountain was fun and entertaining in it's own right. The hike itself was not that difficult, but nice to be in the woods after so much time spent in a car on this trip. And the end point is very worth it, a beautiful scenic place, and so very quiet.
It was one of the most picturesque adventures I have ever done. We woke up early before dawn to get there before sunrise for the best lighting for our pictorial. The dirt road before the trail start is not that bad, it even rained the day before we hiked. We went there in the fall Oct. 2013. We started hiking even before the daybreak started, we used flashlights to light our way, and because it was still dark, it's quite scary, but we did find our way, just don't miss the marks on the trees on certain turns. When we got there we had a blast, the colors are spectacular. My sister and I are passionate photo hobbyist so we took a lot of pictures which I can just brag about how wonderful this world is.
the road to this place is steep and gravelly. we had no trouble in our gmc terrain. the trailhead was easy to find. it is 1.5 miles in and 1.5 out. it wasn't a strenuous hike-not much elevations change. we, of course , had to take the picture everyone takes. it is a glorious view.you reallly feel small, when visiting these huge rock formations.as i said, this is one of the less strenuous hikes.i had to make it hard- i stopped, just as we were leaving the crag, to adjust my hiking boot. i laid my small nikon down. i didn't realize i didn't have it, until we were almost back to the vehicle.so, i did the trail 2 times!plan on staying awhile. you will want to take alot of pictures!
Absolutely fantastic hike for the family. Short hike off the road. Beautiful scenery! Google Tim Ernst for trail descriptions and best times to go.
Anytime of year is a good time to go here. Turn on the dirt road at the Boxley bridge just west of the Boxley baptist church and take the dirt road for a few miles past another small church on your right side. Keep going into the creepy woods till you come upon a parking area then it is a short hike down and with multiple other paths. Stay on the trail and head towards the bluff face. You will certainly know when you get there.
Hawksbill Crag is a lovely site and it feels great to sit out on the edge of the landmark. However I liked Lost Valley Trail better. It has several waterfalls, an excellent trail (moderate to hard), and 2 caves to explore. Do take care exploring these rugged caves as they have no ropes, steps, or assistance to enter or leave the caves.
The trail down to Hawksbill Crag is relatively easy. There are sheer cliffs so any young children need to be watched carefully. The views of the tree tops & valleys are stunning once you reach the cliff area. The crag itself is nice to sit on & take in the views. This is not a hike for anyone scared of heights as you will be near edges at times.
Keep driving, you'll get there. I know when we were driving we kept saying "where is it??" Well, there are no signs and we thought for sure we must have passed the trailhead once on the road leading to the top. Once on the road up to the top (my 2003 Camry made it easily....) we found the start of the trail after about 35 minutes of driving. You will think you've driven too far probably, like we did. Well, the trailhead is to the left (East) where there is a large rock just offside of the road. We thought we would get lost or miss it, but you can't. We were shocked over the lack of signage. Port-a-potty to the right and rock to the right. Trail was easy and I would say children could accomplish it easily if they're above the age of 6. I think it took up about 30 minutes of steady walking to make it to the crag. Will be back next year! Do yourself a favor and visit the Low Gap Cafe once your done!!
This was my second time hiking Whitaker Point. We started early and were the second group on the trail. Perfect weather and loved that it wasn't crowded!