Murray Branch Recreation Area
Murray Branch Recreation Area is a picnic site in North Carolina, at a modelled elevation of 390 m. Bluff Mountain stands 1,430 m to the south-southwest, 5.8 miles off. The nearest named place is Brushy Mountain, a peak 1.0 miles away. East Tennessee Crossing passes 2.2 miles off.
What to expect
- Operated by
- Pisgah National Forest
- Access
- Yes
How to reach it
- 2.2 mi off the East Tennessee Crossing, National
- 3.1 mi off the Appalachian Medley
- 12.5 mi off the French Broad Overview
- 17.4 mi off the Interstate 26 Scenic Highway
Overlooks nearby
- Lover's Leap · 4 mi
- Tanbark Ridge Overlook (MP 376.7) · 29 mi
- Bull Creek Valley Overlook (MP 373.8) · 30 mi
- Lane Pinnacle Overlook (MP 372.1) · 30 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Brushy Mountain: 1.0 mi
- Paint Rock: 2.2 mi
- Bellcow Mountain: 2.4 mi
- Chimney Rocks: 2.6 mi
- Cross Mountain: 2.6 mi
- Ricker Branch Falls: 2.9 mi
- Dudley Falls: 2.9 mi
- Spring Creek Falls: 3.4 mi
- Kelly Falls: 4.1 mi
- Wolf Creek Falls: 4.9 mi
- Paint Creek Recreation Area: 2.7 mi
- Rich-Laurel Wildlife Area: 4.0 mi
- Houston Valley Recreation Area: 4.9 mi
- French Broad Recreation Site: 4.9 mi
- Andrew Johnson Wildlife Management Area: 5.7 mi
- Chimney Rocks: 2.6 mi
- Stony Spur Cliff: 4.0 mi
- Vann Cliff: 4.8 mi
- Blackstack Cliffs: 12.4 mi
- Blackstack Cliffs: 12.4 mi
- Dixie Highway Monument: 2.2 mi
- Dixie Highway Monument: 3.1 mi
- Shelton Laurel Massacre: 7.4 mi
- Declaration of Independence: 13.6 mi
- US Constitution: 13.6 mi
- Big Rock Spring: 5.0 mi
- Cold Spring: 6.4 mi
- Whiteoak Spring: 12.0 mi
- Wildcat Spring: 13.3 mi
- Burnett Spring: 17.1 mi
- The Greeneville Greene County History Museum: 16.8 mi
- City Garage Car Museum: 16.8 mi
- Doak House Museum: 18.6 mi
- Rural Heritage Museum: 19.3 mi
- David Crockett Museum: 23.2 mi
- Stephen Falls Picnic Area: 2.9 mi
- Love Road Picnic: 3.0 mi
- Overlook Access: 4.3 mi
- Cold Springs Picnic Area: 12.4 mi
- Cosby Picnic Area: 21.9 mi
- French Broad Rafting: 9.9 mi
- Wildwater Pigeon Rafting and Zipline Canopy Tours: 16.8 mi
- Tennessee Welcome Center - Cocke County: 17.4 mi
- North Carolina Welcome Center: 17.7 mi
- Wasp: 5.6 mi
- Marshall Nature Sanctuary: 14.3 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 9.3 miles of Murray Branch Recreation Area. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluff Mountain | SSW 199° | 1,430 m | 5.8 mi |
| Tennessee Bluff | SSW 204° | 1,406 m | 5.9 mi |
| Rich Mountain | SSW 211° | 1,311 m | 8.1 mi |
| Laurel Mountain | SW 221° | 1,311 m | 9.2 mi |
| Round Mountain | SW 224° | 1,290 m | 6.8 mi |
| Walnut Mountain | SSW 212° | 1,276 m | 6.7 mi |
| Hap Mountain | SSE 161° | 1,233 m | 8.1 mi |
| Brushy Mountain | SW 221° | 1,226 m | 6.3 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:36 | 19:10 | 19:44 |
| June solstice | 06:16 | 20:14 | 20:52 |
| September equinox | 07:20 | 18:56 | 19:30 |
| December solstice | 07:39 | 16:42 | 17:22 |
Local time (America/New_York).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 38 | 42 | 49 | 57 | 66 | 73 | 76 | 76 | 70 | 59 | 48 | 42 |
| Precip in | 3.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.9 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — HOT Springs, 3 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap element way/671173076
Day trips start here
- Asheville · 30 mi
Take the scenic way to Murray Branch Recreation Area.
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