Figured out why everyone's mileage is wrong on the Timber Creek loop, and it's the sign at the second junction

Nora Park · 2026-10-18T04:25:04.362694+00:00

I've hiked the Timber Creek loop outside of Boone about six times now and always came out 2 miles off from what the guidebook says, so last weekend I finally walked it with a paper map and a cheap step counter clipped to my hip. Turns out the sign at the second junction lists the distance to the ridge as 3.4 miles, but it's really 4.6 if you follow the actual trail instead of the old fire road that got closed in 2019. Everyone I passed was quoting that sign number and planning their water around it, which is a bad deal on a hot day. I stood there for a minute just feeling smug about my little step counter, I won't lie. If you're doing this route, add a full hour and pack an extra liter, because the last push to the ridge is longer than the sign says and there's no water after the creek crossing. Now I'm curious how many other loops around here have old signs that nobody's fixed, so if you've caught one, where was it?

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Figured out why everyone's mileage is wrong on the Timber Creek loop, and it's the sign at the second junction | Backpacking Routes - Babble Community