AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lake Powhatan–Lake Powhatan Beach, 7 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 1,156 ft · 2 hr 51 min

Lake Powhatan–Lake Powhatan Beach, 7 sights is a 6.8-mile out-and-back near Bent Creek, NC. The route passes Lake Powhatan and Lake Powhatan Beach before reaching Bent Creek Gap at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 1,156 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,152 – 3,284 ft · steepest grade: 40%7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Wesley Branch Road 35.48198, -82.62865
Nearest town Bent Creek, NC
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Directions

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Lake Powhatan–Lake Powhatan Beach, 7 sights

6.8 mi · ▲ 1,156 ft · 2 hr 51 min

Elevation 2,154–3,283 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Wesley Branch Road · 35.48198, -82.62865

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Wesley Branch Road, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Powhatan.
  3. 50 ftPass Lake Powhatan Beach.
  4. 450 ftBear left onto Homestead Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wesley Branch Road, heading NW.
  6. 0.7 miBear right onto Pine Tree Connector, heading SW.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Explorer Loop, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading W.
  9. 400 ftSharp left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading NW.
  10. 0.6 miBear left onto 479H, heading SW.
  11. 300 ftBear right onto long branch, heading S.
  12. 0.5 miSharp left onto South Ridge Road, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto long branch, heading W.
  14. 0.3 miBear right onto Shut-In Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.9 miTurn left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading S.
  16. 50 ftSharp left onto Wash Creek Road, heading S.
  17. 50 ftPass Bent Creek Gap.
  18. 50 ftReach Lake Powhatan, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 150 ftSharp right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Shut-In Trail, heading W.
  21. 0.9 miBear left onto long branch, heading NE.
  22. 0.3 miTurn left onto South Ridge Road, heading NE.
  23. 50 ftSharp right onto long branch, heading NE.
  24. 0.5 miBear left onto 479H, heading NE.
  25. 300 ftBear right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading N.
  26. 0.6 miSharp right onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading NE.
  27. 450 ftContinue straight onto Explorer Loop, heading NE.
  28. 500 ftTurn left onto Pine Tree Connector, heading NE.
  29. 200 ftBear left onto Pine Tree Loop, heading N.
  30. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Wesley Branch Road, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Homestead Trail, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Wesley Branch Road, heading E.
  33. 350 ftArrive 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/lake-powhatan-lake-powhatan-beach-out-back-8-sights-11-km-72dd

Trail surface

53% dirt47% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:54 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Wesley Branch Road Trailhead

Hikes near Bent Creek, North Carolina