Don't be concerned by the name of this hike - you won't be visiting a snake's den! In fact, your chances of seeing a snake on this hike are no higher than any other, which is to say fairly slim. Instead, you'll walk a moderate, well-graded path to the remains of an early 20th century retreat, built by one of WNC's historically affluent and conservation-minded citizens.
Begin the hike behind the large boulders at the back of the parking area. At the triangular intersection, turn left onto the Mountains to Sea trail. There are no other intersections all the way to the old lodge and you'll be following the white circular blazes. You will begin by gradually ascending the rounded end of Bull Mountain on a trail that switchbacks half a dozen times before you even begin to break a sweat. In the winter, you can look downhill from the top segment and see the path as it swings back and forth across the slope below you. The forest at the beginning is of tall, straight tuliptrees and other hardwoods, with wildflowers, jewel weed, and stinging nettle covering the forest floor. Poison ivy also grows in abundance, so be careful when hiking in these low elevation areas. The trail surface is generally smooth with a few roots and rocky sections to keep your attention. After the top switchback, the trail will round the ridge. Notice as the forest quickly becomes predominantly oaks - some twisted into grotesque forms - with an understory of mountain laurel. This ridgeline oak forest will gradually transition back into cove hardwoods as you approach the lodge. Some sizeable trees grow here, making for a very pleasant forest scene.
Bull Mountain, Bull Creek and Bull Valley were all named for the last individual of the eastern variety of Elk, a bull, which was shot in this valley many years ago. The elk have since been reintroduced into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and may once again roam these Great Craggy Mountains if they are successful enough. This trail was built to last, and on many sections impressive dry-stacked stone retaining walls still remain. Other sections go beside and through large rock outcroppings. Look for large, leathery looking lichens growing on the rock. They resemble wilting lettuce leaves and are black on the back side. A symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus, these are rock tripe lichens, and they are edible in an emergency when boiled. They are rubbery when wet and crackly when dry. Feel - but don't break or pull them off, as they take a long time to grow back.
Further along, the trail traverses a mountainside of solid rock, and some sporadic views of the Bull Valley open up to your right. This rock disappears, and the first sign that you are at the old lodge site is the appearance of a foundation on the right side of the trail. Shortly thereafter you will reach the lodge site itself with a display board showing a map and pictures of the old lodge and outbuildings along with descriptions of them. Read this to find out what the old foundations you find used to be. Continue past the main lodge site and you will reach an intersection. The trail leading right meets with the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Tanbark Ridge tunnel. Just beyond this intersection is where you find perhaps the most interesting remains of the old estate - the spring house and the foundation of the old tool shed.
The twin pillars of rock to the right of the main trail mark the downhill corners of the shed, while a small spring branch runs over the retaining wall here whose trickling sound will keep you company during your stay. A hydroelectric generator in the tool shed once gave power to the lodge, the water coming from the main reservoir which can still be found up the trail to the right of the spring house. A huge, twisted, fallen oak tree partially blocks the path to the old spring house. The crooks of its branches make for great climbing and sitting spots, so if you're in need of some relaxation - bring a book and spend some time here! You can duck under the arch of the main trunk of this tree to see the remains of the spring house and the spring itself, a crystal-clear round pool rimmed with rocks. The water comes up through sand on the bottom and is always cold. Put your bottled water here in the pool and by the time you leave you will see why the spring water was used to refrigerate items such as eggs and milk.
The Mountains to Sea trail continues on beyond the lodge and very soon crosses a branch of Bull Creek. For this hike, head back down the trail the way you came to get back to your vehicle. Beyond that creek crossing, however, the trail begins to climb steeply to ascend Bull Mountain and the peaks of Wolfden Knob and Lane Pinnacle (5230'). This is the first of many 5000'+ mountains this trail crosses north of Asheville on its way to Mt. Mitchell (6684') and eventually its termination on the Outer Banks on Hatteras Island.
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