We will hike thru the Rough Creek watershed, it sits in an elongated bowl at the south end of the Newfound Mountain complex north of Canton.
While most of the valley is forested, meadows on adjacent private lands allow for fantastic views near the park’s upper west side. And while some of the terrain is steep, and rugged, The Glades are an area of gentle topography supporting a unique mountain bog environment
A series of old, gated roads and purpose-built trails winds around the valley. From the parking area, you’ll climb into the main part of the valley via a steep old road. After climbing to about 3600 ft. elevation alongside the stream, the road levels out some and reaches a junction. Both directions, left and right, are open to hiking, and you can hike a loop along the perimeter of the watershed (the “outer” loop) across the top of Glade Mountain by using them.
Another old road cuts across the middle of the outer loop at a lower elevation, making a shorter “inner” loop you can hike as well.
The Cherry Cove trail splits off the “inner” loop road and climbs to the “outer” loop perimeter road on the west side of the watershed via switchbacks. It then follows the “outer” loop road for a short bit along the ridge (with magnificent views), splits off again and descends through the lower portion of The Glades, before climbing the eastern edge of the watershed to again reach the “outer” perimeter loop road.
The Turkey Run trail splits off the “inner” loop road and joins back with it again at a point farther east, making yet another “inner” loop of trail.
We could make a nice figure 8 hike that could incorporate many of these roads and trails into one long, 10+ mile hike.
Map to: Rough Water Point (SR 1617)
Just after you turn right onto Beaverdam Road (SR 1613) and go 1.9 mi. Turn left onto Rice Cove Road (SR 1616) and go 0.4 mi. Turn right onto Rough Water Point (SR 1617) and go to the end in about 0.3 mile. On the left is a gate with a cattle guard. We will need to unlock the gate, drive through, and close and lock the gate again behind us. Then it’s only about .3 miles to the parking area, it’s really just a wide spot off the road on the left.