Old Murphy Highway Trail

This short trail is part of what used to be one of the main roads into Murphy before Lake Hiwassee was flooded in 1940 and cut the road off, turning it into a walking trail. Though the trail is short, it is rated moderate for some rocky and muddy portions that are difficult to cross (especially when it has been raining.) Two segments of the road at the beginning of the path turn into ponds, but are easy enough to circumvent (bring a walking stick!). Some segments of the trail have a lot of trash on them, but it is worth the hike to get to some very beautiful spots. Even though the trailhead is located very close to downtown Murphy, this trail is only lightly traveled an is fairly secluded, though cell coverage is high along the whole trail. About halfway down the trail you'll find the rock at Mile 95 Creek, a popular spot for amateur graffiti artists. Trail continues along the shore of the lake/river until it begins to climb up along side Laurel Creek, until it ends at Joe Brown Highway. The trail is very popular for fishing, and a 4x4 can easily traverse the trail, even through the shallow ponds.