Hiking the Toecane Station of the Appalachian Ranger District

This area stretches north from the city of Asheville through the Great Craggy and Black Mountains all the way to Roan Mountain on the Tennessee state line. The Coleman Boundary area, which includes Douglas Falls, contains several trails on the slopes of the Great Craggies. The lands surrounding Mount Mitchell State Park are Forest Service lands, and trails connect from this state park onto the District's lands. At the base of Mt. Mitchell, on the Toe River, lies the Black Mountain campground and several excellent trails start from here. Roan mountain, on the Tennessee state line, includes the Appalachian Trail, with several good stretches of trail for day hikes. It also travels south towards Sams Gap where it crosses Interstate 26. A nice day hike on the Appalachian Trail includes the stretch from Sams Gap northeast to Big Bald, a spectacular bald mountaintop included on the District as well.

Toecane Station Trailheads

Coleman Boundary
This area represents one of the more popular areas on the Appalachian Ranger District, with its 70' Douglas Falls being a major highlight.

Roan Mountain
This high ridge on the Tennessee state line hosts a section of the Appalachian Trail as well. The trail (as well as others) passes through cool, dark spruce-fir forests at an elevation of over 6000', with another section traveling across high, treeless mountain balds.