Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles
8.1 mi · ▲ 1,882 ft · 3 hr 38 min
Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Nellie, NC. The route passes Pin Oak Gap and Beech Gap before reaching Laurel Gap at the turnaround, 4.1 miles in. It climbs 1,882 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles
8.1 mi · ▲ 1,882 ft · 3 hr 38 min
Elevation 4,425–5,679 ft
Out & Back · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Trailhead: Balsam Mountain Trail Trailhead · 35.63362, -83.17908
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 80°F / low 62° · precip 12% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 7:08 AM · sunset 7:58 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route
- Start on Balsam Mountain Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Pin Oak Gap.
- 2.3 miPass Beech Gap.
- 1.8 miPass Laurel Gap.
- 50 ftReach Beech Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 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
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
More from Balsam Mountain Trail Trailhead Trailhead
- Beech Gap & Pin Oak Gap via Balsam Mountain Trail 4.6 mi · ▲ 1,072 ft
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