AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rich Mountain–Bellcow Mountain, 5 summits

14.3 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft · 5 hr 50 min

Rich Mountain–Bellcow Mountain, 5 summits is a 14.3-mile out-and-back near Hot Springs, NC. The route passes Rich Mountain, Hurricane Gap and Bellcow Mountain. It climbs 2,130 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,369 – 3,658 ft · steepest grade: 23%14.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rich Mountain Access Trail 35.92733, -82.80484
Nearest town Hot Springs, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rich Mountain–Bellcow Mountain, 5 summits

14.3 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft · 5 hr 50 min

Elevation 2,368–3,657 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Rich Mountain Access Trail · 35.92733, -82.80484

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

  1. Start on Rich Mountain Access Trail, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Rich Mountain.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
  4. 0.7 miBear left onto Shad Road, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftPass Hurricane Gap.
  6. 4.9 miPass Bellcow Mountain.
  7. 0.4 miTurn left onto Jack Branch Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.9 miReach Rich Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.9 miTurn right onto Shad Road, heading NE.
  10. 5.3 miBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right onto Rich Mountain Access Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.1 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/bellcow-mountain-hurricane-gap-out-back-5-saddles

Trail surface

12% dirt88% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:55 PM

Hikes near Hot Springs, North Carolina