AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Big Tom Wilson Preserve

Horse Rock–Deep Gap, 5 saddles

14.9 mi · ▲ 3,598 ft · 6 hr 46 min

Horse Rock–Deep Gap, 5 saddles is a 14.9-mile out-and-back in Big Tom Wilson Preserve near Cattail Creek Community, NC. The route passes Ogle Gap and Deep Gap before reaching Horse Rock at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 3,598 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi4,278 – 6,195 ft · steepest grade: 26%15.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Coyote Ridge 35.80657, -82.28055
Nearest town Cattail Creek Community, NC
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horse Rock–Deep Gap, 5 saddles

14.9 mi · ▲ 3,598 ft · 6 hr 46 min

Elevation 4,279–6,196 ft

Out & Back · Big Tom Wilson Preserve

Trailhead: Coyote Ridge · 35.80657, -82.28055

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 81°F / low 65° · precip 18% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Dogs allowed on leash

  1. Start on Coyote Ridge, heading SW.
  2. 0.9 miPass Ogle Gap.
  3. 2.7 miTurn left onto Deep Gap Road, heading NE.
  4. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  5. 0.7 miPass Deep Gap.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest Trail, heading NE.
  8. 2.8 miReach Horse Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 2.8 miContinue straight onto Black Mountain Crest, heading SW.
  10. 0.7 miSharp left, heading NW.
  11. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Deep Gap Road, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 3.3 miContinue straight onto Coyote Ridge, heading W.
  14. 0.2 miArrive 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/horse-rock-deep-gap-out-back-5-saddles

Trail surface

33% dirt67% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 81°F65°
Precip18%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity66%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
85°65° 12 AM: 2% rain1 AM: 2% rain12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 3% rain2 PM: 11% rain3 PM: 14% rain4 PM: 18% rain5 PM: 13% rain6 PM: 8% rain7 PM: 4% rain8 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sat 79°65° 19%
Sun 74°62° 60%
Mon 67°59° 45%
Tue 71°53°
Wed 77°56°
Thu 79°61°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

Hikes near Cattail Creek Community, North Carolina