The Poinsett Watershed is a 19,000 acre tract of property that includes the entire watershed feeding the Poinsett Reservoir of the Greenville Water System. The initial section of the Poinsett Reservoir Passage is 6.6 miles and begins at Vaughns Gap, the end of the Blue Wall Passage, and continues north along Hog Back Mountain Road for 1.9 miles until it reenters the forest. The trail continues west and climbs to Brushy Ridge before descending several switchbacks into a steep gap. Ascending from this gap via several more switchbacks, the trail again regains the ridges along the SC/NC state line and continues for approximately 3 more miles to Orchard Lake Campground, an intermediate trailhead.

Length: 6.6 miles (no parking at Vaughns Gap trailhead)
Use: Hiking only
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail markings: Yellow blazes, posts with decals

Trail Notes: Be sure to read the Greenville Water System Rules.

Directions:
See page 2 of map PDF.

Click on the map below to view a full-sized Adobe Acrobat map of the Poinsett Reservoir Passage.

Click here to download a map of this passage.