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Nantahala National Forest
Standing Indian Basin Trails
Complete loop: 0.1 mile to 32 miles. Some trails open to horses.
Maps: Southern Nantahala Wilderness and Standing Indian Basin Map.
Attractions: The Standing Indian basin is a horseshoe-shaped drainage formed by the Nantahala and Blue Ridge Mountains with several Peaks over 5,000 feet high. A network of trails leads to waterfalls and mountain peaks. Pickens Nose Trail (0.7 mile) climbs through mature oak forest to a promontory on Brushy Ridge. Waslik Poplar Trail (0.6 mile) leads to the Nation's second largest yellow-poplar tree. The Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the mountain peaks for 32 miles through this area, and the trail passes in and out of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. You can use the AT to complete trail loops. Over 16 miles of orange-blazed trail are open to horses. The trailhead is signed to show the designated users. Primitive camping for horses is available at Hurricane Creek beyond Standing Indian Campground, a developed campground with showers, flush toilets, and picnicking.
Directions: From Franklin, take U.S. 64W for 9 miles. Turn left on old 64 for 2 miles. Turn right on FR 67 (gravel) toward Standing Indian Campground. There are several trailheads.
Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication
