DuPont State Forest

The following description is for a 3.9-mile loop trail that encircles the Guion Farm area, also known as the Flatwood. The trail has gentle to moderate grade throughout, and features two small streams (Shoal and Hooker Creeks). The forest alternates between white pine plantation and mixed hardwoods. This loop can be combined with the South Flatwood Loop Trail to make an 8-mile loop.

Cross Sky Valley Road and take Flatwood Trail, (a dirt road) into the pine forest. Continue straight past Farmhouse Trail intersecting on the left just as the trail begins. The road descends gently until it tees into Shoal Creek Trail just before the bottom of the hill at 0.2 miles. Turn left. This trail, which follows the small Shoals Creek, separates the pine plantation forest from the hardwood forest on the east. At 0.5 miles, Farmhouse Trail intersects on the left (which loops back up to the access area, making a 1 mile loop). Continue straight and parallel the Shoal Creek; at 0.8 miles the road leaves the creek, curves to the left, and climbs gradually up to the crossing of Sky Valley Road at 1.0 miles.

Cross Sky Valley Road and walk about 100' along the road to the right to find the Rifle Trail. Don't follow the power line clearing towards the right, but find the smaller trail leading into the forest to the left. Climb gradually up the Hickory Mountain grade. After a few minutes, fork right at a division in the trail. (The left fork, Poplar Trail, formally Poplar Hill Trail, leads toward Hickory Mountain Road.) At about 1.4 miles, turn left on Guion Trail. Shortly thereafter, intersect with the larger, graveled Hickory Mountain Road at 1.5 miles. Turn right on Hickory Mountain Road to continue toward the old rifle range. (Option: turn right on Guion Trail and left on Boundary Trail and hike 0.3 miles until it terminates at Hickory Mountain Road closer to the Rifle Range.)

Continue up Hickory Mountain Road (westward past a wildlife clearing and another intersection with Boundary Trail), and reach the old rifle range facility at 1.9 miles. Loop left around the back of the shelter and then along the far edge of the clearing, past a faint unmarked trail with a gate, until finding the intersection where two roads reenter the forest at 2.0 miles. The right fork is Hickory Mountain Loop. Take Ridgeline Trail (formally Range Trail), the left of the two, down a grade to 2.3 miles and turn left on Hooker Creek Trail. Continue downward and cross the small Hooker Creek at 2.6 miles. Continue up a steady grade until intersecting with White Pine Trail at 3.0 miles. Turn right on White Pine Trail and continue past another wildlife clearing until intersecting with the larger Buck Forest Road at 3.3 miles. Turn left on Buck Forest Road to return to the access area with a right on Hickory Mountain Road. Approach the Guion Farm houses at 3.8 miles and cut to the right across the meadow (Hickory Mountain Road) to find the access area at 3.9 miles.

To continue on the South Flatwood Trail, turn right on Buck Forest Rd. and see that trail description. (***)

Updated by Lynn Harton per 2005 maps.

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