Trip report Mortimer, Wilson Creek, and NC105
We did not camp this time but will probably be camping in the area next month. There is so much to explore out that way, we will be back many more times. I cant wait to make a snow run out that way this winter. Will definitely need some company and a second vehicle for that though...
We ran 40 to 421 from Greensboro then got off on 16 to 18 in Wilkesboro. We then took 90 to Adeko RD and Adeko will take you to Brown Mountain Beach Rd where the pavement ended for the next 40 miles or so.
Link to a map of routes we explored.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...ll=35.956888,-81.790123&spn=0.039602,0.076818
We always try to stop at the small local shops to spend a little money when we travel. They usually can offer up some details on things you won't find on the internet or in a map. These small shop owners are also the ones who will fight to keep trails open or from being paved in these areas when the time comes, if "we overlanders" are good patrons and help provide them with income.
We stopped by a small shop in Collettsville to get some worms and a few cold drinks. They had a great selection of often forgotten camping and fishing gear. Though they did not sell fishing licenses or trout stamps in our case, they were more than happy to point us to another store that did.
My daughter throwing some rocks at a one lane bridge on Craig Creek Forest Service RD.
We almost missed this view pulling out of Craig Creek onto 181.
The entrance to Brown Mountain Beach RD off of Adeko.
After stopping at the Wilson Creek welcome center and another small shop right next door to it, we found the old abandoned foundations that were once the logging community of Mortimer back in the early 1900s before a tragic forest fire and severe flood forced the residents to abandon their homes and mills.
There are three old buildings in this one area on a short road off to the right when heading North. Marked by the building shown in the last picture above.
There is also a short walking path from the end of this road that will take you to a nice swimming hole with a small single fall that and a couple sandy areas along the banks for lounging. When we got there it was overrun by partying college students so we moved on.
We saw this thing at a small camping area along the way.
Another one lane bridge, this ended up being where we stopped to fish and swim for a few hours. There were only a few other families/fishermen in the area but we all still had a couple hundred yards or more between us.
This old shop is actually the local post office.
We parked down a side trail and got to use our little tent before heading down to the water. We bought this for a camping trip last year and this is the first time we actually used it and the pett toilet ever. It was pretty convenient and looked right at home in the woods.
