AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles

10.6 mi · ▲ 2,841 ft · 4 hr 57 min

Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Three Forks, NC. The route passes Beech Gap and Laurel Gap. It climbs 2,841 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 94/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi3,140 – 5,679 ft · steepest grade: 18%10.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Beech Gap Trail Trailhead 35.62412, -83.21142
Nearest town Three Forks, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles

10.6 mi · ▲ 2,841 ft · 4 hr 57 min

Elevation 3,139–5,679 ft

Out & Back · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Trailhead: Beech Gap Trail Trailhead · 35.62412, -83.21142

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 86°F / low 66° · precip 13% · wind 0 mph · sunrise 7:08 AM · sunset 7:58 PM

Horses allowed on the whole route

  1. Start on Beech Gap Trail, heading NW.
  2. 2.5 miPass Beech Gap.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Balsam Mountain Trail, heading N.
  4. 1.8 miPass Laurel Gap.
  5. 1.1 miReach Beech Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 2.8 miTurn right onto Beech Gap Trail, heading S.
  7. 2.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/beech-gap-laurel-gap-out-back-3-saddles-17-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 86°F66°
Precip13%Wind0 mphUV7Humidity87%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 7:08 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:58 PM
Sat 88°69° 24%
Sun 83°65° 29%
Mon 75°62° 45%
Tue 80°59°
Wed 82°61°
Thu 83°65° 23%

Good to know

  • Horses allowed on the whole route

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Hikes near Three Forks, North Carolina