AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Gauging Station Trail–Pilot Cove Loop Loop, 6 sights

13.2 mi · ▲ 2,410 ft · 5 hr 36 min

Gauging Station Trail–Pilot Cove Loop Loop, 6 sights is a 13.2-mile loop near Wolf Ford, NC. It climbs 2,410 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi3,114 – 4,981 ft · steepest grade: 41%13.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Yellow Gap Road 35.38334, -82.71496
Nearest town Wolf Ford, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gauging Station Trail–Pilot Cove Loop Loop, 6 sights

13.2 mi · ▲ 2,410 ft · 5 hr 36 min

Elevation 3,113–4,981 ft

Loop

Trailhead: Yellow Gap Road · 35.38334, -82.71496

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Yellow Gap Road, heading SW.
  2. 1.8 miSharp left onto Wolf Ford Road, heading SE.
  3. 1.3 miReach Slate Rock Creek Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Gauging Station Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.8 miSharp right onto Pink Beds Loop Trail, heading SW.
  6. 1.1 miTurn right onto Barnett Branch Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miTurn right onto Yellow Gap Road, heading NW.
  8. 1.9 miTurn left onto Thompson Creek, heading E.
  9. 2.1 miTurn right onto Pilot Rock Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miSharp left onto Laurel Mountain Connecter, heading SE.
  11. 0.2 miSharp right onto Little Bald Mountain Trail, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Laurel Mountain, heading N.
  13. 1.1 miTurn right onto Slate Rock Connector, heading NE.
  14. 0.5 miSharp right onto Slate Rock Creek Trail, heading S.
  15. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Pilot Cove Loop, heading E.
  16. 250 ftContinue straight onto Slate Rock Creek Trail, heading SE.
  17. 200 ftThe 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/gauging-station-trail-pilot-cove-loop-loop-6-sights

Trail surface

62% dirt38% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:56 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Yellow Gap Road Trailhead

Hikes near Wolf Ford, North Carolina