Bear Pen Trail–Perkins Trail, 4 sights

8 mi · ▲ 1,982 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Bear Pen Trail–Perkins Trail, 4 sights is an 8-mile out-and-back near Dillingham, NC. It climbs 1,982 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,700 – 4,620 ft · steepest grade: 30%8.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lower Staire 35.75362, -82.37765
Nearest town Dillingham, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bear Pen Trail–Perkins Trail, 4 sights

8 mi · ▲ 1,982 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Elevation 2,700–4,618 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Lower Staire · 35.75362, -82.37765

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 86°F / low 71° · precip 17% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Horses allowed on the whole route

  1. Start on Walker Creek Trail, heading E.
  2. 1.8 miBear left onto Big Ivy Road, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Perkins Trail, heading SE.
  4. 1.1 miBear left onto Laurel Gap Trail, heading S.
  5. 2 miContinue straight onto Bear Pen Trail, heading SW.
  6. 1.4 miBear left onto Big Ivy Road, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Stair Creek Trail, heading W.
  8. 1.1 miBear left onto Walker Creek Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.5 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

27% grass73% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 86°F71°
Precip17%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity89%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°70° 12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 4% rain2 PM: 9% rain3 PM: 15% rain4 PM: 17% rain5 PM: 16% rain6 PM: 12% rain7 PM: 4% rain8 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sat 89°72° 16%
Sun 86°67° 56%
Mon 75°64° 30%
Tue 80°59°
Wed 83°61°
Thu 84°66°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~41 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Horses allowed on the whole route

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