Posted in North Carolina Creepy, Nature March 08, 2022 by

The Creepiest Hike In North Carolina Takes You Through The Ruins Of An Airplane Crash

Hiking in North Carolina opens up a world of possibilities. From waterfalls to extraordinary mountain views, to ruins of entire towns along the trail and more, the things you’ll discover in the wilds of the Tar Heel State are astounding. Thankfully, though, there are only a few places where you’ll stumble upon airplane crash ruins in North Carolina.

And one of those trails holds the wreckage of a plane crash from more than 40 years ago. The trail itself is a very difficult seven-mile hike to the top of Grandfather Mountain. It rises a total of 2,000 feet in just about three miles.
AllTrails/Shelby Casey
And the wreckage found just at the end of the Daniel Boone Scout Trail turns this hike into a somber occasion. It turns out, someone lost his life here back in May of 1978 when turbulent, rainy, stormy weather caused him to lose his way and crash into the side of Grandfather Mountain.
AllTrails/Scott Anderson
Only the crumpled up remains of his Cessna 187Q remained when all was said and done. And here they remain to this day.
Fortunately, for those seeking just to pay tribute to this lost soul and the wreckage of his plane, hikers don't have to endure the entire trail to see the ruins.
AllTrails/Brett Stephens
To get to the trailhead, you'll park at the Boone Fork Parking Area (milemarker 299.9) on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
You'll start out on the Tanawha Trail (see the #1 below) and, also referring to the map below, take a left in the loop instead of a right.
AllTrails.com
Right about where you see the #9 on this map is where you'll find the plane crash site, at the end of the Daniel Boone Scout Trail, where it meets with the Tanawha Trail.
Please remember that someone lost their life here. Posting photos of yourself climbing on the wreckage may not be well received on social media or anywhere else.
AllTrails/William Neveras
If you want to try to tackle one of the hardest trails in North Carolina, circle back around to the other side of the loop and travel counterclockwise.
But be forewarned, it's not a trail for beginners. The hike is rated as HARD by AllTrails, and rightfully so.
AllTrails/Steven Chorma
To hike the entirety, from the trail's start on the Tanawha Trail you'll pick up the Daniel Boone Scout Trail and then once you approach Calloway Peak (Grandfather Mountain's summit) you'll merge with Grandfather Trail.
AllTrails/Jacob Jarvis
Whether you're going all the way or simply taking the clockwise direction on the Daniel Boone Scout Trail, you'll need to get a permit to hike this route. This is merely to let officials know you're in the wilderness, should something happen and you don't return.

For more information about the trail, refer to our friends over at All Trails.

It’s a gloomy and almost downright creepy experience to stumble upon airplane crash ruins in North Carolina. Have you ever? Did you know there is more than one instance of plane crash wreckage in these mountains? Here’s another!

Address: Grandfather Mountain State Park, 9872 Highway 105 South, Banner Elk, NC 28604, USA