Round Mountain is a dome-shaped peak in Bland County, near Bastian. A forest service road, aptly named “Round Mountain Road,” runs directly across it lengthwise. Round Mountain is also home to an extensive system of trails that cumulatively cover over 22 miles. The trails are well-maintained but fairly primitive, and range from moderate to strenuous; some also incorporate fairly steep elevational changes. At its peak Round Mountain reaches an elevation of nearly 4000 feet, and while none of the trails reach quite this high, many are at elevations of 3500 feet or higher. As a result, these trails can be an excellent location to find localized breeders such as Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-throated Blue Warbler and others. Even at the lower elevations, the woods along these trails are thick with Blue-headed Vireos, Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, and an assortment of warblers that includes Black-and-White, Worm-eating, Black-throated Green, and Northern Parula. If you arrive at dawn or dusk, you may catch a singing Eastern Whip-poor-will before it retires for the day. Though not yet reported from here in eBird, this location is also a fine spot for Ruffed Grouse, so listen for their drumming or hope to flush one from the road early in the morning. Cerulean Warbler is another species as yet unreported, but worth keeping on your radar.
The system of trails on Round Mountain is accessed from any of several parking lots on Round Mountain Road. The most readily accessible of these is Parking Area One, located at the base of the mountain near Bastian. For those without vehicles capable of handling the steep, rocky forest service road, this may be the only reachable parking area. However, this parking area also provides the most limited trail access. From here, there are only two options for hikers: hiking along Round Mountain Road, which is a very steep and strenuous hike, but ultimately offers access to the more extensive network of trails near the peak; or the South Fork Trail, which runs for six miles along the southern edge of Round Mountain. South Fork Trail is one of the least strenuous trails, with few elevational changes. At about 3200 feet or less for most of its length, this trail does not necessarily promise many chances for high elevation breeders, but it is still very birdy. A substantial portion of the trail passes through dense mountain laurel thickets, where Worm-eating Warblers are abundant and Swainson’s Warbler, though unreported thus far, is a distinct possibility. At the eastern end, near the parking area, the South Fork Trail also passes through some large cutovers and a powerline cut-through, where edge species such as Eastern Towhee, Indigo Bunting, and Yellow-breasted Chat may be found. About a third of the way down its length, the South Fork Trail connects with the Wheels Up Trail, a short but strenuous hike that rapidly climbs to almost 3500 feet, connecting with the Genesis Loop Trail which ultimately provides access to both Parking Area Two and the other trails near the peak. Farther down, the South Fork Trail also connects to the Salamander Trail and the Goose Trail. At its western terminus, the South Fork Trail ends at Parking Area Three, which is adjacent to Burkes Garden Road.
Accessibility: All of the trails on Round Mountain are accessible from any of the parking areas located on either Round Mountain Road or Burkes Garden Road. Parking Area One is located at the base of the mountain, on the eastern end near Bastian. This parking area is at the lowest elevation; Round Mountain Road is unpaved and often very steep, likely making it inaccessible for birders who are not driving vehicles that handle well in rough terrain. This author drives a Mazda6, a mid-level sedan, and found it impossible to get further than Parking Area One. Though the roads are rutted at spots, they are not substantially impassable under normal conditions. Parking Area One only provides access to the South Fork Trail, which eventually connects to other trails, but it is also possible to hike up Round Mountain Road to access other trails. Each parking area has a signboard with a trail map; it is wise to snap a photograph of the map so that you can easily refer to it while hiking the trails.
Owner/Manager: U.S. Forest Service; a map of the trails can be found here
eBird Hotspot: Round Mountain Trails--Parking Area One
—Matt Anthony