Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

joyce kilmer national forest.jpg
5410 Joyce Kilmer Rd, Robbinsville, NC 28771
5410 Joyce Kilmer Road Robbinsville North Carolina 28771 US

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is part of the Nantahala National Forest, approximately 3,800 acre tract of publicly owned virgin forest in Graham County, NC, near Robbinsville as a living memorial to the writer/poet Joyce Kilmer. Veterans of the Foreign Wars asked the government to set aside a fitting stand of trees to serve as a living memorial to Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action during World War I. Although Kilmer was both a soldier and a poet, he is most remembered for his poetry about common, beautiful things in nature

One of the largest contiguous tracts of old growth forest in the Eastern United States, the area is administered by the U. S. Forest Service. The memorial is a rare example of old growth cove hardwood forest, a diverse type unique to the Appalachian Mountains. In 1975 the memorial forest was joined with a much larger tract of the Nantahala National Forest to become part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness.

Due to a devastating disease of the American chestnut tree that caused a rapid, widespread die-off of the once plentiful tree from its historic range in the Eastern United States, the American chestnut, once the dominant tree of the forest, was affected by the chestnut blight. Although the last of the Kilmer chestnuts had probably died by the late 1930s, their wood is so rot-resistant that remnants of the massive logs and stumps are still visible.

Another more recent loss is that of the giant hemlocks due to an infestation of an exotic insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid. For safety of visitors from a falling limb or tree, Forest Service managers decided to bring down dead trees near the memorial trail in a way they believed would mimic natural blowdown. In November 2010, the Forest Service blew up the trees with explosives, making the lower loop trail much lighter and drier.

The best way to enjoy the impressive memorial forest is by doing the easy 2-mile hike to see the majestic Trees such as Sycamore, Beech, Basswood, Red and White Oaks and Hemlock. Some of the trees are over 400 years old and the oldest Yellow-Poplars are more than 20 ft (6.1 m) in circumference and stand 100 ft (30 m) tall. Aside from the trees there are also other variety of shrubs, vines, ferns, mosses and other plants to see. This popular family hiking destination features an easy two-mile, figure-eight trail and has two loops: the 1-1/4 miles lower loop passes the Joyce Kilmer Memorial plaque, and the upper ¾ mile loop swings through Poplar Cove, a grove of the largest trees.

The trailhead parking area has a flush toilet and picnic tables. No camping or overnight parking is allowed.

The only way to see the impressive memorial forest is on foot. The figure-eight Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail covers two miles and has two loops: the 1.25-mile lower loop passes the Joyce Kilmer Memorial plaque, and the upper 0.75-mile loop swings though Popular Cove – a grove of the forest’s largest trees. The trailhead parking area has a flush toilet and picnic tables. No camping or overnight parking is allowed.

Located about 15 miles from Robbinsville. Take Highway 129 North for 1½ miles to the junction with Highway 143 West (Massey Branch Road). Turn left on Highway 143 and travel approx 4 miles to a stop sign/T intersection. Turn right and drive for approx 7.3 miles and bear to the right at the junction of Santeetlah Gap and the Cherohala Skyway. Continue for another 2½ miles to the entrance of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on your left.

joyce kilmer national forest.jpg 3 years ago
Showing 1 result
Rating
Featured/Unfeatured
Claimed/Unclaimed
724 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.14 mi
(828) 479-4843(828) 479-4843
664 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.15 mi
OPEN EVERYDAY FROM 11:00am to 4:00pm FOOTLONG HOT DOGS, SANDWICHES AND BURGERS, SOUPS AND SALADS,...
88 Lower Mountain Creek Rd, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.16 mi
Our unique tiny house style cabins are perfect for family vacations, motorcycle tours, romantic g...
290 N Main St, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.19 mi
(828) 479-3370(828) 479-3370
206 N Main St, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.23 mi
(828) 479-6042(828) 479-6042
Gas Station Robbinsville NC
140 Laura St, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.32 mi
Car Wash Repair Service ATM Restroom Wifi Restaurant Grocer Reward Harris Teeter...
237 E Main St, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.34 mi
“Homemade and carefully crafted, served with extraordinary hospitality.” Since March 2003, this f...
448 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.36 mi
(828) 735-0761(828) 735-0761
Barbecue restaurant in Robbinsville North Carolina drive and self service food.
429 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.36 mi
El Pacifico Restaurant is a family-owned and operated business that started October of 2003 locat...
140 Ford St, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.37 mi
Manor is a family operated business. We take pride to provide the same quality of care, friendlin...
400 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.4 mi
(828) 479-9405(828) 479-9405
We are a family owned & operated restaurant. Freshly hand patty hamburgers to fresh vegetable...
374 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.45 mi
From adding more balanced options to our Happy Meal®, to serving up fresh beef Quarter Pounder® b...
374 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.45 mi
Fuels Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines Diesel ATM-IN Food Offerings Air Loyalty cards 24 Hour ...
374 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.45 mi
(828) 479-8973(828) 479-8973
photo(15).JPG
Deals Gap, US-129, Robbinsville, NC 28771 7.46 mi
Tourist attraction in Swain County, North Carolina Ok so this wasn’t on MY bucket list .. b...
17548 Tapoco Rd, Robbinsville, NC 28771 7.47 mi
We are nestled deep in the Great Smoky Mountains on the NC/TN state line and are known as the hom...
253 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.49 mi
he San-Ran Motel, an American owned and operated business since 1968, is located at 253 Rodney Or...
272 Rodney Orr Bypass, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.51 mi
302 Ford St, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA 7.51 mi
Hello, My named is Chef Shea Blalock Anderson. I was raised in Western North Carolina and attende...
Showing 21 - 40 of 103 results