I am planning an early october trip to the smokies, and was wondering if anybody had any experience with the Asbury Trail that they would share. Last time I hiked the Cataloochee Divide Trail, I noticed there was a trail sign for the Asbury Trail continuing on out of the GSMNP into the Pisgah National Forest. I was curious, so I did a little investigation and found that the trail continues on the border of GSMNP/Pisgah for 2 or 3 miles, and then crosses back into the GSMNP and extends to Mt. Sterling Gap.
It appears that the Asbury Trail is maintained by the local Boy Scout Council. The only documentation I could find about it was from the local council. This is the best information I have been able to find about it. The linked document includes a topo map with the trail marked. Note that the trail is somewhat obscured by the thick black line on the map.
This trail might simplify things for my group this fall, so I was hoping to include it in our trip itinerary.
So here are my questions to anybody familiar with the Asbury Trail.
1. Has anybody hiked this?
2. Is this trail open to the general public, or does one have to be with a Scout group to hike the trail?
3. I was considering dry camping somewhere along the border of Pisgah/GSMNP on the Pisgah side. From my understanding, camping is allowed anywhere in the Pisgah National Forest as long as it is 1/4 mile from a road or front country site. Is my understanding correct?
4. Does anybody have further information about this trail that they could share? I'm curious about mileage from Cove Creek Gap to Mt. Sterling gap.
Thanks everybody.