Brevard Music Center Lake–Cat Gap, 6 sights
13.2 mi · ▲ 3,280 ft · 6 hr 2 min
Brevard Music Center Lake–Cat Gap, 6 sights is a 13.2-mile out-and-back in Bracken Preserve near Laurel Falls, NC. The route passes Cat Gap before reaching Brevard Music Center Lake at the turnaround, 6.6 miles in. It climbs 3,280 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Brevard Music Center Lake–Cat Gap, 6 sights
13.2 mi · ▲ 3,280 ft · 6 hr 2 min
Elevation 2,344–3,886 ft
Out & Back · Bracken Preserve
Trailhead: Cat Gap Loop Trail · 35.28347, -82.79200
Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 88°F / low 70° · precip 18% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Cat Gap Loop Trail, heading W.
- 2.3 miPass Cat Gap.
- 150 ftSharp right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto 475C, heading SE.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Brushy Creek, heading S.
- 250 ftBear left onto Mackey Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Bracken Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 1.4 miReach Brevard Music Center Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Mackey Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 400 ftBear right onto Brushy Creek, heading SE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto 475C, heading W.
- 2.3 miSharp right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Cat Gap Loop Trail, heading NE.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.3 mi in (~128 min). Leave by 5:28 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Cat Gap Loop Trail Trailhead
- Upper Cedar Rock Falls via Cat Gap Loop Trail 1.4 mi · ▲ 235 ft
- Horse Cove–Cat Gap Loop Trail, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 252 ft
- Butter Gap Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 297 ft
- Cat Gap Loop 3.7 mi · ▲ 247 ft
- Cedar Rock Falls–Horse Cove Loop, 4 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 828 ft
- Cedar Rock Mountain–Horse Cove, 7 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 1,799 ft
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