Springer Mountain to Long Creek Falls via BMT Loop and Three Forks

Join me as I do a classic and supremely pretty hike from Springer Mountain to Long Creek Falls via the Appalachian Trail adding in a pleasant BMT loop. We will be keeping a pace of around 2.7mph average. 

We will park at the Springer Mountain Trailhead and take the trail up to the top of Springer and the start of the Appalachian Trail. We will then double back and take a quick right turn on to the BMT past Owen Vista and cute babbling creeks and follow the loop to meet back up with the AT.

We will continue on the AT and this particularly lovely section takes us on a beautiful rolling trail to Three Forks where we will continue on to Long Creek Falls about another mile on. Here we will lunch and then make our way back to the cars at the lot, but we will continue on the AT instead of doubling back on the BMT loop. 

All Trails Map below. It might be a tad unusual andI am 99.9% sure the numbers reflect us doing the loop twice - don't ask. Its a learning curve. Good news is - I know the trails. 

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/springer-mountain-3b8a614?u=i

Trailhead location

https://goo.gl/maps/mQJDzujnjH 4xfE6P8

Springer Mountain Parking. Forest Service Rd 42 30513

Accessing the Forest Service Road from the SR400 side is definitely more rugged. The 575 route takes us to theother side of the service road which is not as rugged but still a dirt road.