Big Tom Gap Trail & Mount Mitchell Trail is a 12.5-mile out-and-back in Mount Mitchell State Park near Busick, NC. It climbs 3,446 ft, with sections as steep as 34% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi2,989 – 6,234 ft · steepest grade: 34%12.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Mount Mitchell Trailhead 35.75104, -82.22006
Nearest town Busick, NC
Directions
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Big Tom Gap Trail & Mount Mitchell Trail
12.5 mi · ▲ 3,446 ft · 5 hr 53 min
Elevation 2,988–6,235 ft
Out & Back · Mount Mitchell State Park
Trailhead: Mount Mitchell Trailhead · 35.75104, -82.22006
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:52 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Briar Bottom, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Briar Bottom Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading W.
- 3.5 miSharp right onto Buncombe Horse Trail, heading SW.
- 2.2 miTurn left onto Big Tom Gap Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miReach Mount Mitchell Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Buncombe Horse Trail, heading SE.
- 2.2 miSharp left onto Mount Mitchell Trail, heading SW.
- 3.5 miBear left onto Briar Bottom Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Briar Bottom, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
62% dirt2% gravel36% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 7:52 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.2 mi in (~243 min). Leave by 3:30 PM for the 7:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mount Mitchell Trailhead Trailhead
- Setrock Creek Falls–Briar Bottom Trail, 3 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 231 ft
- South River Loop Loop 3.2 mi · ▲ 406 ft
- Mount Mitchell Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,238 ft
- Green Knob–Green Knob Trail, 3 sights 5.6 mi · ▲ 2,399 ft
- Curtis Creek Road 8.8 mi · ▲ 1,313 ft
- Licklog Road via Curtis Creek Road 10.9 mi · ▲ 1,457 ft
Get outside more
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