Gold Mine Road (Willis Knob)

Several USFS work crews out with heavy equipment cleaning up storm debris from roadside in 2 different places.

Many down trees halfway in.

This trail has some sections that are pretty narrow and definitely will scrape the sides of your vehicle. The trail itself is pretty easy probably should be a green not a blue.

Relatively easy besides a few muddy sections and some washouts. One section towards the end that is pretty difficult, deep mud on one side and a big hole on the other.

Pretty easy trail. Went later in the evening before dark. Took the trail to the end. A few short spurs to explore. The end of the trail has a few kind of fun spots. Turned right and went up Holden Cemetery Road and explored the cemetery.

Pretty easy trail up to the halfway point, where a tree was blocking the trail. We could have made it that far in my wife’s Subaru Forester. Beautiful country though. Saw a few deer.

Not sure who rated this trail as moderate but it was pretty boring. A Prius could do it. Light pinstriping, cool old cemetery at the end.

I was there on 10/17/24. The trail is no longer as described. "They" must have come through and flattened all the berms, ruts, and holes. The trail is now gravel all the way to the graveyard (end of trail). There were very few obstacles. I believe a front wheel drive car could now make it to the end (by driving around some small obstacles). I was really excited to hit this trail after seeing the original pictures but left feeling pretty disappointed. I didn't take any pictures because it was just a gravel road but I may be able to pull some screenshots off of my dash cam. Note: There was a giant pile of gravel in a clearing near the entrance of the trail. There was also evidence of them cutting A LOT of trees that had fallen across the trail from Hurricane Helene. I'm wondering if maybe they took a Bobcat & made "repairs" & added gravel at the same time they cleared the road of trees.