AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Craven Gap & Folk Art Center via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

11.4 mi · ▲ 2,051 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Craven Gap & Folk Art Center via Mountains-to-Sea Trail is an 11.4-mile out-and-back near Riceville, NC. The route reaches Craven Gap. It climbs 2,051 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi2,156 – 3,222 ft · steepest grade: 20%11.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Craven Gap Trail 35.64796, -82.49182
Nearest town Riceville, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Craven Gap & Folk Art Center via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

11.4 mi · ▲ 2,051 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Elevation 2,157–3,221 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Craven Gap Trail · 35.64796, -82.49182

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 88°F / low 70° · precip 12% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mountains to Sea Connector Trail, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Craven Gap.
  3. 300 ftSharp right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading S.
  4. 2.9 miTurn left onto Lunch Rock Trail, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading S.
  6. 2.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  8. 100 ftContinue straight onto Folk Art Center, heading E.
  9. 0.5 miReach Craven Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.5 miTurn right, heading N.
  11. 2.2 miTurn left onto Lunch Rock Trail, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
  13. 2.9 miSharp left onto Mountains to Sea Connector Trail, heading N.
  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/craven-gap-folk-art-center-out-back-18-km

Trail surface

100% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 88°F70°
Precip12%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity69%
Hourly temperature
90°70°
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:55 PM
Sun 82°64° 58%
Mon 75°60° 33%
Tue 79°56°
Wed 83°57°
Thu 84°61° 15%
Fri 80°61° 38%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:35 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:55 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 8:21 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Craven Gap Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Riceville, North Carolina