Jefferson County High Point Trip Report

English Mtn (3,629 ft)

Date: October 7, 2000
Author: Ken Oesers

From the Newport/Highway 411 exit from Interstate 40, go west on Highway 411 for about 7 miles, then turn left onto Blowing Cave Road at a sign for Forbidden Caverns and English Mountain Retreat. Pass the cave at 1.3 miles, and at 5.3 miles is the entrance to English Mountain Retreat and Condos. Pass the condo road and go another 0.1 mile, then turn left onto signed Glasgow Street, a gravel road. Go 0.2 mile and turn left onto another gravel road, then 0.1 mile and turn right up a steep hill for 0.2 mile to an intersection. Turn left and park on the side of the road just past a driveway. Two modified jeeps were driving up this road to the highpoint, plus some ATVs, but hiking is about the only way most people will reach the top because of large rocks in the washed out dirt road. Follow the road uphill 0.7 mile to the top of the ridge, then follow the trail left 1.1 miles to a split. Left goes to a lookout, right goes 0.8 mile to the top of the mountain and joins the gravel road that comes up the mountain from the northeast (where it is gated and posted no trespassing). Turn left on this gravel road and continue 0.8 miles to the fire tower on the left side of the road and another tower on the right. Go past the fire tower uphill to the top of the hill. There are 2 benchmarks; both have 'ENGLISH' on them, but one has an arrow pointing toward the other, and the other has a triangle on it. They are about 10 feet apart, and seem to be about the same elevation. There is a nice view to the west/northwest from the fire tower.

Annette found a magazine a few weeks back advertising the English Mountain Condos, with views and miles of trails, so we were hoping for the best. I was thinking we could follow condos to the top, but all the condos are down low, and the old roads are very washed out. The manager of English Mountain Condos gave us a trail map, which detailed the map to the top of English Mountain, but without good distances on it. We asked if we could hike and were given permission, although the roads/trails are not posted and some ATVs and jeeps were driving up. I don't know about access from the gravel road near the Bible Camp, except that it is posted at the gate.