Elk Pen Trail–Little Andy Trail, 3 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 969 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Elk Pen Trail–Little Andy Trail, 3 sights is a 4.9-mile out-and-back near Dillingham, NC. It climbs 969 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Elk Pen Trail–Little Andy Trail, 3 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 969 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Elevation 2,649–3,639 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Lower Staire · 35.75362, -82.37765
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 86°F / low 71° · precip 17% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Horses allowed on the whole route
- Start on Lower Staire, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Big Ivy Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Elk Pen Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miSharp right onto Big Ivy Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Little Andy Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftReach Lower Staire, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear left onto Big Ivy Road, heading E.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Elk Pen Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Big Ivy Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Lower Staire, heading S.
- 0.4 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 2.4 mi in (~88 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Horses allowed on the whole route
More from Lower Staire Trailhead
- Stair Creek Trail & Walker Creek Trail 3.2 mi · ▲ 1,221 ft
- Bear Pen Trail–Perkins Trail, 4 sights 8 mi · ▲ 1,982 ft
- Elk Pen Trail–Laurel Gap Trail Loop, 6 sights 8.4 mi · ▲ 1,862 ft
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Hikes near Dillingham, North Carolina