Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Double Gap–Polls Gap Loop, 7 sights
16 mi · ▲ 3,276 ft · 6 hr 58 min
Double Gap–Polls Gap Loop, 7 sights is a 16-mile loop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Maggie Valley, NC. The route passes Polls Gap and Double Gap. It climbs 3,276 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Double Gap–Polls Gap Loop, 7 sights
16 mi · ▲ 3,276 ft · 6 hr 58 min
Elevation 3,062–5,556 ft
Loop · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Trailhead: Hemphill Bald Trail Trailhead · 35.56325, -83.16156
Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 75°F / low 61° · precip 13% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:08 AM · sunset 7:57 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rough Fork Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Polls Gap.
- 3.5 miSharp right onto Caldwell Fork Trail, heading S.
- 3.1 miReach Double Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left onto McKee Branch Trail, heading SE.
- 2.2 miTurn right onto Cataloochee Divide Trail, heading S.
- 1.8 miPass Double Gap.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Hemphill Bald Trail, heading SW.
- 5.4 miThe loop closes 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 4.8 mi in (~149 min). Leave by 5:09 PM for the 7:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Maggie Valley, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Maggie Valley, North Carolina