Green Gap–Benton MacKaye Trail, 7 sights
10.3 mi · ▲ 3,422 ft · 5 hr 9 min
Green Gap–Benton MacKaye Trail, 7 sights is a 10.3-mile out-and-back near Fontana Village, NC. The route reaches Green Gap. It climbs 3,422 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Green Gap–Benton MacKaye Trail, 7 sights
10.3 mi · ▲ 3,422 ft · 5 hr 9 min
Elevation 1,314–3,617 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 35.45067, -83.80160
Weather Sep 5: Fog, high 92°F / low 70° · precip 16% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 7:59 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 400 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Fontana Campground Road, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Squatter Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Squatter Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Squatter Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Fontana Loop Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftBear left onto Whiting Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Whiting Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading S.
- 350 ftBear left onto Whiting Rail Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Benton MacKaye Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Whiting Rail Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right onto Stairway to Heaven Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Whiting Rail Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lookout Rock Trail, heading SW.
- 0.8 miPass Green Gap.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Yellow Creek Mountain Trail, heading W.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading E.
- 2.4 miTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading W.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Bee Cove Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Fontana Campground Road, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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 3.7 mi in (~143 min). Leave by 5:15 PM for the 7:59 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Fontana Campground Road 1.9 mi · ▲ 698 ft
- Fontana Campground Road 2.1 mi · ▲ 725 ft
- Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 815 ft
- Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 815 ft
- Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 845 ft
- Lewellyn Cove Nature Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 845 ft
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