Dragon's Tooth

If you were ever scared of dragons as a kid you are probably going to be equally scared of Dragon's Tooth as an adult. This is an intense hike from start to finish. The first quarter of a mile is easy and a nice little warm up for what is in store. Once you get to the intersection of the Dragon Tooth and Boy Scout trail stay on the Dragon's Tooth trail (obviously). Now the trail gets a little more difficult but still a walk in the park compared to what is coming up. This part of the trail is 1.5 miles long and you can track how far you go by knowing you are going to cross 8 streams. (Most of them are dried up so keep your eyes peeled.) After 1.5 miles you will come across another intersection, stay on the Dragon's Tooth trail (obviously again). This is where the hike gets very intense, so pull out your sweat towel. The trail scenery is like nothing I've seen. Sometimes you feel like you are walking through the rainforest and other times you feel as if you are walking through Jerusalem. Most of the path is sandy and their are multiple rocks to climb over. (The rocks are sandy causing them to be slick so be careful.) At one point you literally have to scale about a 7 foot vertical rock wall with some foot holes. Toward the end there are even handle bars on some rocks to aid you in climbing. If this last leg of the trail doesn't make you feel like spiderman climbing up walls, I don't know what will.

            

Scaling the wall

Using the handle bars

Once you reach the tooth, go around to the right side and begin climbing up it. The climb is somewhat of a challenge so only go as far as you feel comfortable going. The views are fantastic, you can see multiple mountain ranges including the McAfees Knob mountain. At the top we met a flute playing thru-hiker who had set up camp next to the tooth. 

         

Climbing the tooth

The top of the tooth or the top of the world?

The trek down is not any easier, mostly because rocks are usually easier to climb up than down. Just a warning, on the way down we did see a giant black snake a couple feet off the trail. This is the only time I've seen a snake on a hike. The snake did wrap its body around my friend and did begin constricting her leg to the point where we thought she was going to lose it. Just kidding, from what I've read, black snakes are harmless. In a little less than a mile, when the the trail meets back up with the intersection at the Appalachian, I would recommend you take the Appalachian trail back down. The trail is very narrow, but it gives you a completely different view of trail scenery. It is a very narrow path  with odd, rainforest looking plants on either side. Make sure you follow the white marks on the rocks or the trees to make sure you are on the right path.

Some walk down the trail, but we swung down from tree to tree, averaging great time for the return trip.

It will add about a mile and over a mile to your hike but its well worth it. There are two incredible over looks, one less than a quarter of a mile from the intersection and a few more about half a mile beyond that.

               

 The trail meets back up with the intersection of the Boy Scouts Trail. Take that trail for .3 miles until it meets back up with the Dragons Tooth Trail for a .25 mile hike back down to your car.

Directions: 6128 Catawba Valley Drive

*There will be a big sign on your left that says Dragon's Tooth.