AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Bull Gap via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

14.9 mi · ▲ 2,686 ft · 6 hr 19 min

Bull Gap via Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a 14.9-mile out-and-back near Swannanoa Hills, NC. The route reaches Bull Gap at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 2,686 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi2,218 – 3,347 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Folk Art Center 35.59301, -82.48118
Nearest town Swannanoa Hills, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bull Gap via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

14.9 mi · ▲ 2,686 ft · 6 hr 19 min

Elevation 2,217–3,347 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Folk Art Center · 35.59301, -82.48118

Weather Sep 4: Mostly clear, high 90°F / low 67° · precip 19% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Folk Art Center, heading W.
  3. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NW.
  5. 2.2 miTurn left onto Lunch Rock Trail, heading N.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
  7. 5.2 miSharp left onto Mountains to Sea Trail Connector, heading E.
  8. 150 ftReach Bull Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 150 ftSharp right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SE.
  10. 5.2 miTurn left onto Lunch Rock Trail, heading S.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading S.
  12. 2.2 miBear left onto Folk Art Center, heading E.
  13. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  14. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/bull-gap-out-back-24-km

Trail surface

17% dirt83% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 90°F67°
Precip19%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity67%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65° 12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 3% rain2 PM: 7% rain3 PM: 17% rain4 PM: 19% rain5 PM: 14% rain6 PM: 11% rain7 PM: 6% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:55 PM
Sat 92°69°
Sun 85°67° 51%
Mon 76°64° 27%
Tue 81°60°
Wed 87°59°
Thu 89°62°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.2 mi in (~164 min). Leave by 4:50 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Folk Art Center Trailhead

Hikes near Swannanoa Hills, North Carolina