Linville Gorge Wilderness

Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric, 5 sights

14.8 mi · ▲ 4,472 ft · 7 hr 10 min

Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric, 5 sights is a 14.8-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Ashford, NC. The route reaches Water Tree (Blackgum Springs). It climbs 4,472 ft, with sections as steep as 44% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi1,250 – 3,219 ft · steepest grade: 44%15.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Pinch In Trail 35.85158, -81.91768
Nearest town Ashford, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Water Tree (Blackgum Springs)–Cambric, 5 sights

14.8 mi · ▲ 4,472 ft · 7 hr 10 min

Elevation 1,251–3,219 ft

Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness

Trailhead: Pinch In Trail · 35.85158, -81.91768

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 87°F / low 68° · precip 11% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:51 PM

  1. Start on Pinch In Trail, heading SE.
  2. 1.6 miTurn right onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left onto Cambric, heading NE.
  4. 1.4 miTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
  5. 2.6 miTurn left onto Water Tree Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miReach Water Tree (Blackgum Springs), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.1 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Jeep, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right onto Rick's Crossover, heading S.
  11. 50 ftBear left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
  12. 1.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 1.7 miTurn left onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading NW.
  14. 3.2 miTurn left onto Pinch In Trail, heading N.
  15. 1.6 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 87°F68°
Precip11%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity68%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 7:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:51 PM
Sun 80°64° 78%
Mon 72°61° 73%
Tue 78°55°
Wed 84°58°
Thu 87°63°
Fri 80°62° 31%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.2 mi in (~207 min). Leave by 4:05 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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