Page 19 - Burke County NC 2023

Brown I n the Pisgah National Forest near Morganton,
Brown Mountain is one of the last formations
as the Blue Ridge Mountains yield to the
flatter Piedmont region. Its peak is 2,750 feet while
the ridge stands around 2,600 feet. For years, the
Mountain: mountain has grabbed the attention of paranormal
afficionados and trail riders alike.

Weird Lights in the Night
Day and Night Heard of the elusive “Brown Mountain Lights?”
Orbs of bright light that can change hues and
bounce among the trees or above Brown Mountain
have been witnessed, analyzed, researched,
photographed, and theorized about since memory
recalls. These lights are the center of paranormal
By Lydia Cobb and geologic energy theories ever since an article
about them appeared in a 1911 local newspaper.

Oral tradition tells of a great war between the
Catawba and Cherokee. The women who mourned
their lost warriors went searching for their bodies
with handheld firelight on the mountain. Are we
seeing these ghosts?

Or: Is Earth’s magnetic energy throwing out balls
of natural gases? When it rains, is the quartz
mineral in the mountain providing this light? Are
aliens landing?

Stop by the Burke County Chamber of Commerce
to pick up your own copy of the Brown Mountain
Lights Viewing Guide, written by Joshua P. Warren,
a researcher who has been investigating this
mystery since he was a teen. You can also visit the
“alien” in the visitor center that once starred in the
local filming of the 2005 film Alien Abduction.

Ride the Ridge
If you’d rather explore Brown Mountain in the
daylight, the U.S. Forest Service established off-
highway vehicle (OHV) trails for mountain bikers
and 4-wheelers back in the 1980s. The 34 miles of
looping and extremely rugged trails cross around
the mountain and are open daily from April 1 to
January 1.
Brown Mountain OHV trails are the only OHV-
designated area in the Pisgah National Forest.
Riders can purchase passes from several local
vendors and at the Grandfather Ranger Station by
calling 828-652-2144 . Passes are $5/day or $30
for the season.

Need a campsite? Primitive dispersed campsites
are along FR 299. Mortimer Campground, about
nine miles from the Brown Mountain Trailhead, is a
more developed camping area.

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