Blue Ridge Parkway-Sam Knob Trail and Flat Laurel Creek Trails

Sam Knob and Laurel Creek is a combination of two trails that creates a loop hike. Sam Knob trail is an out-and-back trail to a high-elevation knob. On today's excursion because of the late start and  Aaron having the lack of energy we did not hike up the Sam Knob Summit, but turned left to where it junctions with the Flat Laurel Creek Trail and did a circle. We will at a later date visit the knob when we hike the Devils Courthouse.going via Little Sam Trail.

The Sam Knob Trail starts at the side of the parking area next to the restrooms. The trail surface is a gray crushed rock and relatively wide like you see in the above picture.

Once you descend these stairs, the trail begins to be more of a footpath

A gorgeous scenery while crossing through this meadow.

  

As you approach the creek, it became a little bit swampy and washed-out. This staircase like boardwalk provided for sure footing.

The embankment you walk down to cross the Flat Laural Creek.

No bridge, but plenty of rocks to help keep your feet dry.

The view upstream (above) and downstream (below) of the Flat Laurel Creek standing on a rock in the middle of the creek.

The picture may lead you to believe that you are looking down a stream, but it just happens to be a wet portion of the trail. Today we encountering two horseback riders.

We came at the right time to see a variety of wildflowers in bloom. The only flower I could identify is the Rhododendron.

I wish we had time to climb Sam Knob, but I now have something to look forward to on my next hiking adventure. We did have a bear sighting on this trip! It wasn't deep in the woods of the Smoky Mountains, but as we were leaving the Log Cabin Pancake House on Airport Road in Gatlinburg, a bear ran right in front of us and disappeared down an alley.That's probably the best way to meet a wild bear. 

Salem Lake Trail

Salem Lake and the trail that circles it is a Winston-Salem oasis. The shores of Salem Lake is entirely undeveloped except for a park and marina located at the West end of the lake. The 7 miles is an easy hike because it is mostly flat terrain. Despite it being a 92-degree day the dense forest created a canopy over the trail that kept Gypsy and I shaded. 

This intersection was both my starting point and ending.

Squirrel!

A Whitetail deer leaped across the trail then stopped and looked at us long enough for me to snap its picture.

A typical view of Salem Lake Trail. Wide, flat, and right next to the shore.

Plenty of shade and a 14 mph breeze made a 92-degree day bearable.

The East end of the lake along Linville Road.

 A Salem Lake view from the East end next to Linville Road.

Every yellow dot you see on this map, there is a sign like this one showing where you're located.

Turning 180 degrees from the sign above is my view of this cove along the South shore.

My final view of Lake Salem on the East end. I completed my hike in 3 1/2 hours. 

It is understandable why Salem Lake made Joe Miller's  list of 100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina.  Aaron and I bicycled this trail the very next day.

  

This picture was taken the following day when Aaron and I bicycled the 7-miles. We are taking a break at some benches along a creek.

I have never seen anything quite like this before. It's the ultimate refreshment station. At the bottom there is a drinking fountain for you dog, then another for you. On the other side, you have filtered water to refill your water bottle. What Aaron is doing in this pic is having a cool mist of water spray on him from above. The fountain located a the Linville Road Parking area at the East end of Salem Lake.