Appalachian Trail
13.5 mi · ▲ 3,956 ft · 6 hr 29 min
Appalachian Trail is a 13.5-mile out-and-back near Fontana Village, NC. It climbs 3,956 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Appalachian Trail
13.5 mi · ▲ 3,956 ft · 6 hr 29 min
Elevation 1,716–3,736 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 35.41132, -83.77773
Weather Sep 5: Fog, high 87°F / low 69° · precip 16% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 7:58 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
- 5 miTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading N.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Bee Cove Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
- 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Bee Cove Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
- 5.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:34 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM — 9 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from this trailhead
- Appalachian Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 651 ft
- Appalachian Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 704 ft
- Appalachian Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 1,825 ft
- Lookout Rock & Green Gap via Appalachian Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 2,736 ft
- Appalachian Trail 11.3 mi · ▲ 3,399 ft
- Appalachian Trail 12.3 mi · ▲ 3,553 ft
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Hikes near Fontana Village, North Carolina