Bee Cove Trail

4.7 mi · ▲ 1,454 ft · 2 hr 18 min

Bee Cove Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back near Fontana Village, NC. It climbs 1,454 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,316 – 2,320 ft · steepest grade: 29%5.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 35.45067, -83.80160
Nearest town Fontana Village, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bee Cove Trail

4.7 mi · ▲ 1,454 ft · 2 hr 18 min

Elevation 1,314–2,321 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 35.45067, -83.80160

Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 89°F / low 69° · precip 7% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 8:00 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 400 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  3. 450 ftContinue straight onto Fontana Campground Road, heading SW.
  4. 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.1 miTurn left onto Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.6 miSharp left, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miSharp right onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading NW.
  8. 0.6 miBear right onto Bee Cove Trail, heading S.
  9. 50 ftReach Bee Cove Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading S.
  11. 0.6 miSharp left, heading N.
  12. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  13. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  15. 0.1 miBear left onto Fontana Campground Road, heading NE.
  16. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  17. 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

56% gravel6% dirt38% unspecified

Weather

FogTemperature 89°F69°
Precip7%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity92%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 7:11 AM12 AM3 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:00 PM
Sat 93°71° 18%
Sun 89°70° 15%
Mon 83°66° 45%
Tue 87°63°
Wed 87°63°
Thu 89°66° 24%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 8:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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