Clear Creek Access Area of SMSP to reopen on St. Patrick's Day

Although the main section of South Mountains State Park remains closed, the Clear Creek Access Area, off U.S. 64 South, will reopen on Monday, March 17.

Both the Clear Creek Access Area and the much larger Jacob Fork Access Area have been closed since Hurricane Helene struck the region on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

Forestry experts estimate that more than 5,000 trees within the park boundaries were felled by the high winds and driving rains of Helene, with many of them falling squarely across trails.

The heavy rains associated with the storm also destroyed or damaged several bridges in the park and caused landslides that have blocked some trails.

The address for the Clear Creek Access Area is 5999 Branstrom Orchard St., Morganton, which is 8.7 miles and 16 minutes drive time from downtown Morganton.

Two trails are in the access area — one for hikers only and the other a combination horse riding and hiking trail.

The Lake View Trail, which circles the Clear Creek Reservoir, is a hiking-only trail and is rated as moderate.

The trail provides views of the reservoir and of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. The reservoir serves as home to a variety of waterfowl and also has a very active beaver population.

The Clear Creek Trail is a 2.2-mile out and back trek that climbs from the reservoir toward the slope topped by Buzzard Roost, which at just over 3,000 feet is the tallest peak in the park.

This trail, which simply ends in the woods, is available for both hikers and horse riders. Although the trail offers no clear views, it does meander through a mature forest that is home to a variety of wildlife.

Park staff have long emphasized that there is no trail linking the Clear Creek Access with the Jacob Fork area of the park to the east and, due to the steepness of the terrain between the two sections, it is unlikely that such a trail will ever be constructed.

Prospective visitors to the Clear Creek Access should remember that it offers no restroom facilities nor other amenities — only the two trails and a parking area.

Clear Creek is also a day-use only area and no overnight camping is permitted.

State park officials hope that a partial reopening of the Jacob Fork area will occur at some point in April, but no firm plans have been announced.

Several bridges used by both hikers and emergency vehicles in the Jacob Fork Access Area were destroyed by Helene.