General Information

To begin with, I must inform all hikers that the Waslik Poplar has been in a state of deterioration for many years and has reached the point of being dangerous for anyone to stand under its branches.  It is in the process of being cut down although, as far as I know, no time has yet been set for that removal.  It is either the largest or second-largest tree in the eastern part of the United States.

    This trail guide is marked in minutes, such as :03, :12, :18, etc., of hiking time.  This is general guide to help you understand where you are on the trail.  People, obviously hike at different speeds, but these times are based on a steady rate of 2 MPH.

    John Wasilik was a forester, a District Ranger, who worked in these parts back in the 1930’s.   In 1933, the tree now known as the Wasilik Poplar was one of two large Poplars which were approached by loggers.  They cut down the first tree and hauled it out with a team of oxen.  By the time they got the first tree up to the road, the oxen team was too exhausted to go back down for the other one.  (You may understand that better after you have come back up the hill!)   The remaining tree was later believed to be the largest surviving tree east of the Mississippi River, and was so designated in 1969.  Subsequently, a slightly larger Poplar was discovered in Virginia.

    It’s interesting to realize that early Europeans who explored the great forests of these mountains seldom remarked about Poplar trees.  Even though there were probably many poplars as large and larger than the Wasilik Poplar, they were overshadowed by the “big” trees of the primeval forest, the great Chestnuts.  Just try to imagine what those forests must have looked like!  The Chestnut trees were destroyed by the great blight in the 1930’s, and although no new Chestnuts have grown in 60 years, they still sprout from the stumps of the old trees, and the slopes of this trail are thick with small chestnut trees.  The great logs that you see lying on the ground, on both sides of the Wasilik Poplar Trail,  covered with moss are those great Chestnut trees that fell 60 years ago;  hikers now call them Chestnut ghosts”

Driving Route:

   

    Leave the center of Franklin heading south on US 441 South.

    Start odometer as you begin turn onto US 64 West  on the interchange.

    At  about 9.5 miles you will pass a Scenic Overlook  from which you can see the town of Franklin.

    At 10.0 miles you will pass through Winding Stair Gap 3,820 foot elevation.  At the end of the gap, you will cross the Appalachian Trail (AT) which actually runs over U64 for 300 feet.  The AT is marked with white blazes, and you can see some of them painted right on the highway.  The blazes look like someone has patted the road with a dusty chalkboard eraser.

    At 11.5 miles turn left on “Old Highway 64”.

    At 12.2 miles you will pass Rainbow Springs Campground, on your right.  This is a well known stopover for through hikers - a place to get a warm shower, pick up and post mail, watch some TV, and best of all, sleep in a real bed!  If you look at books written by “through-hikers”, many of them speak of Rainbow Springs with much tenderness.

    At 13.5 miles turn right on the Standing Indian Campground road.  You will pass over the AT again at this point.

     At  13.8 miles you will be at the parking area which is called Rock Gap. This is your trailhead for this hike.

Hiking Trail:

    Start    Begin descent.  You will cross over the AT as you leave the parking lot.  Immediately on your left you can see a Yellow Birch, and a large hemlock.  As you enter the forest you will encounter blackberries, wild strawberries,  Astors, and you may see Foam Flowers and your first Trilliums.  Mayapples are usually at the crossing of the two trails.

     :05    An easy hike downhill brings you to a bench which will look a lot better on the way back up.  You will probably have passed Beech Ferns, Trilliums, Maidenhair Ferns, a Jack-in-the-Pulpit or two and some Poison Ivy.

      :07      There is a small rivulet which is typical of small streams all over these mountains.  You also may see Umbrella Plants and Bloodroot here.

      :10    Cherry Cove creek.  Depending on the season you can see Umbrella Plants, Mandrake, up to 4 species of Trillium, also blue, white and yellow Violets.  Take a good look:  You are in a hardwood mountain cove.  These coves almost always have running water and a great variety of plant, bird and animal life.  Also many boulders are often present in coves - this is a Walmart of the mountain forest! 

     :12     Good example of Dutchman’s Pipe vine on trees to left of trail just 300 feet past creek.

     :18     Grapevines on the ground.  More Dutchman’s Pipe, Goldenrod.  Note how the land has now become level.

     :23     The Wasilik Poplar.

Take some time here.  Make a few photographs, look at the tree and feel it.  See if you can sense some of its tremendous energy!