Lemon Gap & Garenflo Gap via Appalachian Trail
15.5 mi · ▲ 4,669 ft · 7 hr 30 min
Lemon Gap & Garenflo Gap via Appalachian Trail is a 15.5-mile out-and-back near Bluff, NC. The route passes Garenflo Gap before reaching Lemon Gap at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 4,669 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 90/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lemon Gap & Garenflo Gap via Appalachian Trail
15.5 mi · ▲ 4,669 ft · 7 hr 30 min
Elevation 2,351–4,686 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Gorenflo Gap Road · 35.85025, -82.87356
Weather Sep 4: Rain showers, high 87°F / low 69° · precip 6% · wind 14 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:57 PM
- Start on Gorenflo Gap Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miPass Garenflo Gap.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading NW.
- 7.6 miTurn right onto Catpen Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Lemon Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
- 7.6 miContinue straight onto Gorenflo Gap Road, heading NW.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.0 mi in (~161 min). Leave by 4:55 PM for the 7:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Gorenflo Gap Road Trailhead
- Shut-In Trail & Garenflo Gap 4.5 mi · ▲ 727 ft
- Bluff Mountain Road–Catpen Road, 3 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 1,772 ft
- Walnut Mountain–Walnut Mountain Trail, 3 summits 13.2 mi · ▲ 3,928 ft
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Hikes near Bluff, North Carolina