Fontana Loop Trail & Goldbranch Court via Old Fontana Forest Road

5 mi · ▲ 569 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Fontana Loop Trail & Goldbranch Court via Old Fontana Forest Road is a 5-mile out-and-back near Fontana Village, NC. It climbs 569 ft. It scores 20/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,850 – 2,116 ft5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Appalachian Trail 35.43964, -83.79374
Nearest town Fontana Village, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fontana Loop Trail & Goldbranch Court via Old Fontana Forest Road

5 mi · ▲ 569 ft · 1 hr 57 min

Elevation 1,851–2,118 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Appalachian Trail · 35.43964, -83.79374

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 8:00 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start on Old Fontana Forest Road, heading NW.
  2. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Bee Cove Trail, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading S.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading S.
  6. 1.1 miTurn right onto Fairhaven Court, heading W.
  7. 450 ftTurn left onto Hoor Hollow Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Goldbranch Court, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Hoor Hollow Trail, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Goldbranch Court, heading NW.
  11. 0.2 miReach Fontana Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hoor Hollow Trail, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Goldbranch Court, heading S.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hoor Hollow Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miTurn right onto Fairhaven Court, heading E.
  16. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading SE.
  18. 1.3 miBear left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading E.
  19. 50 ftTurn right onto Bee Cove Trail, heading E.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading E.
  21. 0.7 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

51% dirt40% gravel9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:11 AMSunset 8:00 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 7:15 PM for the 8:00 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Toilets at the trailhead

More from Appalachian Trail Trailhead