Big Butt–Flint Gap, 3 saddles
14.1 mi · ▲ 2,301 ft · 5 hr 51 min
Big Butt–Flint Gap, 3 saddles is a 14.1-mile out-and-back near Carmen, NC. The route passes Devil Fork Gap and Flint Gap before reaching Big Butt at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 2,301 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Butt–Flint Gap, 3 saddles
14.1 mi · ▲ 2,301 ft · 5 hr 51 min
Elevation 3,101–4,811 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Appalachian Trail · 36.01035, -82.60881
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Devil Fork Gap.
- 3.4 miPass Flint Gap.
- 2.1 miBear left onto Shelton Graves Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Big Butt Road, heading N.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading NW.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Big Butt Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftReach Big Butt, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Big Butt Road, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading S.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Big Butt Road, heading SE.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Shelton Graves Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading S.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 3 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
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~173 min). Leave by 4:41 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Appalachian Trail Trailhead
- Appalachian Viewpoint & Devil Fork Gap via Appalachian Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 1,928 ft
- Blockstand Creek Trail–Flint Mountain Trail, 3 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 1,489 ft
- Rice Gap–Rice Creek Road, 3 saddles 12.2 mi · ▲ 3,429 ft
- Blockstand Creek Access Trail–Flint Creek Trail, 5 sights 13.5 mi · ▲ 2,237 ft
- Whitehouse Cliffs–Blockstand Creek Access Trail, 7 sights 14 mi · ▲ 2,860 ft
- High Rock–Appalachian Viewpoint, 4 saddles 14.1 mi · ▲ 3,681 ft
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Hikes near Carmen, North Carolina