For local trail runners, North Slope is something of a legacy. A favorite for it’s ease of access and perfect 3.7 mile loop, the North Slope trail begins and ends in the Davidson River Campground. This location also makes it a popular hike among campground guests, so during the high season, be prepared for heavier foot traffic. Great for running, the trail definitely has it’s steep and challenging sections, but it also has a good mix of flat and downhill too. It’s a really pretty trail, and for anyone interested in tackling on extended mileage, there is a connector trail on the back end of the loop that ties in to the Art Loeb trail.
Directions: From Downtown Brevard, take NC-280 East. Take a left onto US-276 North into the main entrance for Pisgah National Forest. At a little over a mile, take a left into the Davidson River Campground access road. Park in the lot that’s immediately on your left, before the bridge. Continue on foot into the campground for about 1/4 mile to the parking lot on the left for the campground’s amphitheater. From the path to the amphitheater, there is a connector trail that leads to the trailhead, which is between campsites 87 & 89 on the Laurel Loop.
