This is part of Section 4 of the 100-mile N.C. Bartram Trail in Francklin, NC. It’s a steady gradual climb to the ridgelines and peaceful forests with wildflowers along the trail in the Spring and Summer. We’ll see our first cascading waterfall within 5 minutes of starting the hike and amazing views of the Mill Creek Country Club and surrounding valley from 100 ft. long rock shelf.
We will start at the end of Ray Cove Road/Pressley Road and work our way up following the yellow blazed trail. After the waterfall we’ll enter a peaceful wooded area for most of the hike. Our destination is ‘William’s Pulpit,’ just over 2 miles away. The Pulpit is a 100 ft. long rock shelf that offers wonderful views of the Mill Creek Valley including Mill Creek Country Club just below and farther out the Nantahala Mountains.
Directions:
From the U.S. Hwy-441/U.S. Hwy-64 junction in Franklin, drive West on U.S. Hwy-64 for 1 mile and turn Right at the red light onto Sloan Road. In 0.3 miles (passing the Nantahal Ranger Station on the Right) you’ll come to a stop sign at the intersection of Sloan Rd & ‘Old Murphy Road.’ Take a slight left onto Old Murphy Road to an immediate right onto Pressley Road. In 1.1 miles Pressely Road turns into Ray Cove Road (no turn needed). Continue for another 0.6 mile to the dead end and Wallace Branch access to the Bartram Trail.