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Dawson Wildlife Management Area, Wildcat Tract |
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Thursday, 13 December 2007 |
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To the north of Big Canoe is the Dawson Wildlife
Management Area, Wildcat Tract. This area includes approximately 4,500
acres primarily designated for hunting and fishing that an
organization, The Mountain Stewards, has obtained permission to open
for passive recreation. The Mountain Stewards have developed and
marked trails in this area. Maps of these trails can be found on the Mountain Stewards website.
Frank Wright wrote a series of articles on trails
in this area in his article, Copperhead’s Day Hikes, in Smoke Signals
from April through September 2004. These articles are available in the
Smoke Signals archives.
Frank’s articles can provide guidance on selecting the trail you could
hike and assist you in finding your way through the trails. The
Mountain Stewards website also has descriptions of each trail and ways
to access them. If you plan to hike in this area and are not familiar
with the trails, you should print off a map of the trails either from
Frank’s articles or the Mountain Stewards site and carry it with you.
Accessing Wildcat Trails from Big Canoe: The Wildcat Trails can be accessed from Big Canoe at three (3) locations.
- Where Wildcat
Parkway currently ends at the intersection with Blazing Star: Park at
the end of Wildcat Parkway and go forward as if continuing on Wildcat
Parkway. You will see an old road, walk downhill, you will see a road
fork to the left, but you should stay to the right. Do not take any
side roads, this road will intersect with the Turner Trail in the
Wildcat Area about 100 yards from the beginning point of Turner Trail.
Turn to the right to reach the picnic area and the river, left will
take you onto Turner Trail.
- At the end of Red Fox View:
Continue straight off the end of the road, you will see the trail in
the old road across the silt fence. Continue down the old road and it
will intersect with the Turner Trail at the 0.5 mile marker.
- At
the end of Red Fox Drive: Park at the end of Red Fox Drive, walk to
the left off the end of the road and you will see a path that carries
you to an old road. Continue down the old road and it will intersect
with the Turner Trail at the 0.7 mile marker.
- At the end
of Deer Run Ridge: Park near the water tower on Deer Run Ridge, go
around the locked gate and walk right (North) on Monument Road for
about a mile. The access to the Wildlife Management area is marked
with a sign on the right.
Precautions: There are several things you should be aware of when hiking in the Wildlife Management Area.
- Hunters are present
in this area so you should wear brightly colored clothing, preferably
orange. Squirrel hunting season begins August 15, 2006 and various
hunting seasons with guns continue through February 28, 2007. Turkey
season is March 24 through May 15, 2007.
- Hikers have
become lost in this area. You should pay attention to intersections so
when you view them on your return trip you can identify the direction
from which you entered. As stated above, carry a map of the trails
with you. Cellular phones will work in much of this area, especially
at higher elevations. Consider carrying your cell phone.
- Some
of the trails in this area are difficult. The Mountain Stewards
website has topographical maps indicating elevations. Many trails are
best hiked by departing one point and having a second vehicle at
another exit point, so having a hiking partner and using two vehicles
can be useful.
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Dawson WMA, Wildcat Tract