Bowlens Creek Trailhead

This picture is purely for informational purposes, as finding the Bowlens Creek Trailhead can be challenging. We wasted a good 15 minutes trying to locate it! From US19E in Burnsville, take NC197 south for 0.7 miles to Bowlens Creek Road and turn left. It is 2.4 miles up Bowlens Creek Road to Water Shed Rd. The street sign in the photo reads "Water Shed Rd" with "PVT" in yellow. This is where you start the hike up Bowlens Creek. As you hike up Water Shed Rd you will pass a few houses and come to a sign reading "Entering Pisgah National Forest". After crossing the creek you will finally see the first "Crest Trail" sign. There is a cemetery a few hundred yards up the road past this hairpin turn. That is where we parked. We drove right by the cemetery as it is pretty small (and it was still dark) so it can be easy to miss. There is a little room for parking on Water Shed Rd but it appears to be private property. I would imagine you need permission to park there.