RUFUS MORGAN SHELTER
Location: Western North Carolina
Trip Starts: NOC (Wesser)
Trip Ends: Rufus Morgan Shelter
Total Distance: 1.6 miles
Hike Type: In & Out, Backtrack Hike
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Trails Used: Appalachian Trail
Trail Traffic: Moderate
Trip Type: Day or Overnight Hike
More Information:
Nantahala National Forest
Cheoah District, Route 1, Box 16A
Robbinsville, NC 28771
828-479-6431
Highlights:
This short hike starts at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) at Wesser, NC and climbs 500 feet heading southbound on the Appalachian Trail to the Rufus Morgan Shelter. For the most part, it is a steep grade of switchbacks until the last few hundred yards before the shelter. The structure sits about 50 yards off the trail to the east and looks to sleep roughly 6-8 people.
More Details:
- click to see trail photos from this hike to the Rufus Morgan Shelter: January 1, 2008
- click to read a trip report for this walk on the Appalachian Trail: January 1, 2008 (password required)
- click to view maps of this hike near the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser: Rufus Morgan Shelter Area Map, Burningtown Gap to NOC Profile Map (password required), Cold Springs Shelter to NOC Trail Map (password required)
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- click for more hiking and backpacking books on the Appalachian Trail
- click for access to the guidebook Trail By Trail: Backpacking In The Smoky Mountains which has details on this destination
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