Carver's Gap to Damascus

[soumodeler]

Planning on hiking Carver's Gap to Damascus at the end of October. A few questions:

- Is Mountain Harbour still the best (safest) place to park? I have read where Carver's isn't really safe to leave a vehicle for a week.

- I'm assuming it will be hunting season still?

- Is Watuga Lake area still closed?

- Anything else I need to know?

[MuddyWaters]

Mountain harbor is definitely a good place to park. I wouldnt park at carvers gap.

But if you hiking to damascus...park there, shuttle to carvers gap. Your shuttler in damascus can tell you where to park there.

[FrogLevel]

Mountain Harbor is the best bet for parking. There are hostels in Damascus where you can park too. It is hunting season but only bow hunting until mid November so you should be good. The Watauga Lake area is still closed for camping from the road crossing to the Dam but you can hike through.

We've had zero rain for a month so don't skip that water source if you are low. All the streams are running but many springs and seasonal creeks are dry.

[GoldenBear]

> Is Watuga Lake area still closed?

http://www.elizabethton.com/2017/03/28/black-bear-activity-shuts-down-areas-of-cherokee-national-forest/
https://www.nps.gov/appa/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

You can hike through this area, but you can't stop for even a short break. The shelter is absolutely closed, and will probably remain so for the foreseeable future.