Posted in North Carolina Hiking, Nature February 03, 2019 by

Hike To This Unique Mountaintop Cave In North Carolina For An Adventure Like No Other

At approximately 2,200 feet tall, North Carolina’s Hibriten Mountain isn’t the tallest peak in the state, but its location at the western end of the Brushy Mountains and near the city of Lenoir, makes it a prominent feature on the landscape. Known for the tower on top as well as the lights that turn on and sparkle through the holiday season, Hibriten Mountain is not only part of the landscape, but also part of the community.

Most people who head to the top of Hibriten do so for the view.
Wikipedia/Ken Thomas - KenThomas.us
From the very top, you can see for miles and miles, and in the distance are more mountain ranges.
In 1982, a local hang gliding club built a launch ramp on top of Hibriten. It's still in place and a popular spot to sit for a moment and take in the beautiful scenery.
alltrails/jon e
But what most people (outside of locals, perhaps) don't know about Hibriten Mountain is that if you stray from the road that leads to the top, you'll encounter a path that winds around to the north side of the mountain.
alltrails/Sayf Albayati
Google Maps/Olivia Hamby
It can be a daunting task to discover the trailhead (watch the video below for clues), but once you do, getting to the boulder field on the north side of the mountain is only a moderate hike and a short distance.
The entrance to Hibriten Mountain Cave is located in plain sight along the trail.
Google Maps/matt miller
Look for a huge tree that's grown on top of the boulders over the cave's entrance. Remember to bring a flashlight!
Once inside the cave, most people are able to stand up, at least partially.
Google Maps/Ashley Norton
The cave is reportedly 120 feet long and has three distinct rooms. At least one carving on the wall dates back to the early 1900s. Local historians believe the cave was used during the War Between the States. It was reportedly a hideaway for Confederate soldiers.
Most adults find it easy to access the first two rooms; however, the third requires slipping though a very small opening.
alltrails/Julie Gamble Eichler
If you explore the cave, then please leave no trace. Also, expect to encounter (or startle) some bats, because you will likely encounter at least a few napping along the ceiling. (You may want to avoid standing all the way up!)

Two adventurous explorers hiked into the cave in 2012 and captured the video below from YouTube user david0126. At the beginning of the video they give some clues as to just where the Hibriten Mountain Cave trailhead can be found along the road to the top of Hibriten. Take a peek:

A wealth of information about the trail to the top of Hibriten Mountain can be found at this link on AllTrails.

North Carolina’s many caves are fascinating to explore. Head to this cave to discover a place where a man known as “America’s Pioneer” sought shelter from time to time.