Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6)–Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7), 5 sights is a 16-mile out-and-back near Boylston, NC. The route passes Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7) before reaching Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6) at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 3,438 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi2,221 – 4,029 ft · steepest grade: 27%16.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Wash Creek Road 35.40683, -82.64352
Nearest town Boylston, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6)–Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7), 5 sights
16 mi · ▲ 3,438 ft · 7 hr 3 min
Elevation 2,220–4,030 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Wash Creek Road · 35.40683, -82.64352
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Wash Creek Road, heading N.
- 2.3 miContinue straight onto Seniard Mountain Road, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Wash Creek Road, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Bad Fork Trail, heading NW.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto Wash Creek Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Shut-In Trail, heading W.
- 1.8 miPass Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7).
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Stony Bald View, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shut-In Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miReach Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Stony Bald View, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shut-In Trail, heading E.
- 2.7 miTurn right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Wash Creek Road, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bad Fork Trail, heading S.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto Wash Creek Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Seniard Mountain Road, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Wash Creek Road, heading SE.
- 2.3 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
96% dirt3% paved1% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:54 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.7 mi in (~257 min). Leave by 3:16 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Wash Creek Road Trailhead
- Seniard Mountain Road & Wash Creek Road 5 mi · ▲ 370 ft
- Hendersonville Reservoir–Fletcher Creek Trail, 3 sights 7.8 mi · ▲ 710 ft
- Hendersonville Reservoir–Wash Creek Road, 3 sights 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,382 ft
- Bad Fork Trail–Seniard Mountain Road, 4 sights 10.3 mi · ▲ 1,924 ft
- Bear Branch–Fletcher Creek Road, 9 sights 12.8 mi · ▲ 1,845 ft
- Chestnut Cove Gap–Bear Branch, 3 sights 14.1 mi · ▲ 2,482 ft
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