Alex Hauck: February 2026

Star Mountain Loop
November 23, 2025 / Cherokee National Forest

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Blog Entry:

The main reason for this hike was to shake out my new Hyperlight Southwest backpack that I just got. Wanted to get a good hike in with it loaded up to see how it did, and I will give you a rundown of it at the end of this blog post. I also chose this hike because it is an area I have not much explored except for the Gee Creek Hikes I have done. I tried Starr Mountain on the Gee Creek side, but that trail is heavily overgrown, and I could not complete it with Frank.

My Route:

- Click Here To Open AllTrails Route -	(1) #127 Hogback Spur	....................................	1.5
	(2) #126 Hogback Horse	....................................	2.9
	(3) CR 44	....................................	0.9
	(4) #120 Starr Mountain Horse	....................................	3.1
	(5) #123 Yellow Creek	....................................	1.7
	(6) #122 Burkett-Ivin	....................................	0.2
	(7) CR 44	....................................	0.2
	(8) #126 Hogback Horse	....................................	1.1
	(9) #127 Hogback Spur	....................................	1.5

My route started off on Forest Trail No. 127 Hogback Spur that is a nice, wide, soft trail with a definite forest feel to it and less of the temperate rain forest you get in the Smoky Mountains and other parts of Cherokee National Forest. It does have a slight uphill grade, but nothing difficult. There are several places where you can pull off to the side and get a beautiful view when the leaves are off the trees.

- Along Hugback Spur -

At the trail junction with Hogback Horse trail, I took it to the left and as you wind around the trail, it opens at times to give an actual prairie feel with long, tall, wispy grass. Today was a bright sunny day, and without leaves on the trees it amplified the strength of sun. Hogback Horse trail ends at County Road 44 where you follow the road until you arrive at Starr Mountain Horse Trail #120.

After a short climb you reach the ridge line of Starr Mountain. I am not sure how it is in the summer with leaves on the trees, but at the time when I was hiking it the sun did beat on me and felt intense. There are some spaces along this section of the hike that provide some good views of the surrounding area. Right before you hit the Yellow Creek trail, there is a picnic table that provides a great please fir a break and take in the view.

- Sitting Along The Ridge of Starr Mt. -

The Yellow Creek junction will be on the right side of the trail and is easily missed, speaking from experience. This trail narrows and takes you back into the forest where you are once again surrounded by trees along with large groupings of rocks in a few different areas. I found this to be a pleasant walk and got a little reprieve from the harsh sun. The trail ends at the Buckett-Ivin Trail #122 and after just under a quarter of a mile you cross a bridge over Yellow Creek and meet up with Country Road 44.

You are not on Country Road 44 as long this time before linking up to the northern section of Hogback Horse Trail #126 where it widens again. Like most of this loop, the walk through here is very nice and easy going. This section of the trail will transition out of forest to prairie as you hit the junction with Hogback Spur where eventually it transitions back to forest. Hogback Spur is the only section of the loop you will have to hike twice. Of course, the lighting was different my second time around that gave me a whole different effect over one of the mountain views. It lit in such a way that I almost thought I was looking at a painting and not real life.