Hazel Creek Trail

Hazel Creek Trail is a remote 15.2-mile, one-way backcountry hike from Fontana Lake near Campsite 86, up Hazel Creek through the former town of Proctor, and on to Welch Ridge near the Appalachian Trail and Silers Bald. It is a point-to-point route, not a loop. The mapped route is about 15.2 miles one way; mileage accounts range from 14.7 to almost 16. Plan for a long day, about nine hours of walking before stops and boat or exit travel. Returning the same way would mean doing the whole route twice. This is a good fit if you want a long creek-valley crossing and can sort out both ends before you start.

The lower section follows an old roadbed beside the creek, with bridges and repeated water crossings. Around 4.5 miles in, Jenkins Ridge Trail branches off; Campsites 85 and 84 sit in this stretch. About 0.8 mile farther, Bone Valley Trail leaves near Campsite 83. Those named junctions are useful checkpoints as the route leaves the lake behind and continues north through the valley.

The former town of Proctor makes the middle of the hike more than a string of miles. Logging and mining shaped the community; by 1910 it had a school, a church, two post offices and a movie theater. The Granville Calhoun house remains, along with scattered chimneys, stoves and foundations. When Fontana Dam created the reservoir in the early 1940s, it covered homes and the road that once connected the settlement to the outside world. The creek and old town remains are the reason to take time through this stretch.

About 1.3 miles beyond the Bone Valley junction, Hazel Creek reaches Cold Spring Gap. From there it climbs for roughly 8.1 miles, passing Campsite 82 before reaching Welch Ridge near the Appalachian Trail. The upper section narrows to singletrack, with steep switchbacks and many creek crossings; after rain, some crossings can reach two or three feet. The route rises about 3,100 feet overall from the lake-side end to the ridge. This sustained climb, on top of the long approach and crossings, is what makes the route hard.

There is no road-side trailhead at the lake end. Reach the Campsite 86 area by boat on Fontana Lake or by another backcountry route, then arrange a separate exit from Welch Ridge. Low lake levels can move boat landings to Ollie Cove and add about half a mile. The park's online information does not settle the current status of the upper section, so check with its Backcountry Information Office before relying on the through-route. Backcountry camping requires a permit and a reservation at a designated site. Pets are not allowed on this trail.