Bearwallow Gap–Fire Tower Road, 4 sights
9.3 mi · ▲ 2,537 ft · 4 hr 22 min
Bearwallow Gap–Fire Tower Road, 4 sights is a 9.3-mile out-and-back in Wildcat Rock Preserve near Chestnut Hill, NC. The route reaches Bearwallow Gap at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 2,537 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bearwallow Gap–Fire Tower Road, 4 sights
9.3 mi · ▲ 2,537 ft · 4 hr 22 min
Elevation 2,362–4,178 ft
Out & Back · Wildcat Rock Preserve
Trailhead: Wildcat Rock Trail · 35.47329, -82.33210
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 87°F / low 71° · precip 17% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Wildcat Rock Trail, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 3.8 miSharp right onto Fire Tower Road, heading W.
- 0.8 miSharp right onto Trombatore Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Bearwallow Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Fire Tower Road, heading SW.
- 0.8 miSharp left onto Wildcat Rock Trail, heading S.
- 3.9 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 1.6 mi in (~72 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Wildcat Rock Trail Trailhead
- Wildcat Rock Overlook & Wildcat Rock Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 1,095 ft
- Tom and Glenna Rock Overlook via Orange Spur Trail off the Blue Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 876 ft
- Rattlesnake Knob Observation Point & Orange Viewpoint via Orange Spur Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,065 ft
- Little Bearwallow Mountain & Wildcat Rock Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,623 ft
- Blue Ridge Pastures–Strawberry Gap Viewpoint, 6 sights 14.1 mi · ▲ 3,854 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Chestnut Hill, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Chestnut Hill, North Carolina