Bee Cove Trail–Benton MacKaye Trail, 4 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 1,233 ft · 3 hr 23 min
Bee Cove Trail–Benton MacKaye Trail, 4 sights is an 8.3-mile out-and-back near Fontana Village, NC. It climbs 1,233 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bee Cove Trail–Benton MacKaye Trail, 4 sights
8.3 mi · ▲ 1,233 ft · 3 hr 23 min
Elevation 1,853–2,775 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 35.43330, -83.82305
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 7:59 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Squatter Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Substation Road, heading E.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Bee Cove Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading SW.
- 1.9 miReach Benton MacKaye Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.9 miTurn right onto Bee Cove Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading SE.
- 0.6 miSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Substation Road, heading SW.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading NW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Squatter Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive 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 2.0 mi in (~61 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:03 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lookout Rock–Green Gap, 6 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 1,350 ft
- Benton MacKaye Trail–Fontana Loop Trail, 3 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 916 ft
- Bee Cove Trail–Benton MacKaye Trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 761 ft
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Hikes near Fontana Village, North Carolina