LONG LAKE LOOP HIKE DESCRIPTION: We will start at Bent Creek River Park no later than 10:00 am. Proceed under Hwy 191, then into the Arboretum along the paved entrance road to the Gatehouse parking lot.
Once in, the Arboretum trails will be as follows: Old Mill trail (0.3 mile) followed by the Wesley Branch trail (0.4 mile), then take the relatively new Lower Willow Pond trail (0.15 mile) to the pond, then up to the parking lot.
Stop at the Baker Visitor Center for a restroom break if needed. Then hike across the parking lot or through the gardens to the Education Center. Then down the Carolina Mountain trail (1.3 miles) to Bent Creek Road. Then we will hike out of the Arboretum gate along Bent Creek Road, which is very flat, then over to Lake Powhatan, where we can stop for a snack break at the dock. Then hike the rest of the way around Lake Powhatan, and back to Bent Creek Road, then back into the Arboretum. (From the Arboretum gate, out around the lake and back is about 2.5 – 3 miles or so. Once back in the Arboretum, hike along Bent Creek Road, maybe taking the scenic route, then back to the Old Mill trail and out of the Arboretum under Hwy 191 back to Bent Creek River Park.
Directions: Bent Creek River Park, 1610 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806