Lake Powhatan–Lake Powhatan Beach, 7 sights

9.6 mi · ▲ 1,033 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Lake Powhatan–Lake Powhatan Beach, 7 sights is a 9.6-mile out-and-back near Bent Creek, NC. The route passes Lake Powhatan Beach and Lake Powhatan. It climbs 1,033 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,057 – 2,805 ft · steepest grade: 25%10.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Wesley Branch Trail 35.49837, -82.60725
Nearest town Bent Creek, NC

Directions

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Lake Powhatan–Lake Powhatan Beach, 7 sights

9.6 mi · ▲ 1,033 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Elevation 2,057–2,805 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Wesley Branch Trail · 35.49837, -82.60725

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Wesley Branch Trail, heading E.
  2. 350 ftSharp right onto Natural Garden Trail, heading W.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left onto Running Cedar Road, heading S.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right onto Bent Creek Trail, heading SW.
  6. 1.2 miPass Lake Powhatan Beach.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Hardtimes Road, heading SW.
  8. 300 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.1 miPass Lake Powhatan.
  10. 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
  11. 0.3 miTurn right onto Wesley Branch Road, heading W.
  12. 0.7 miBear right onto Pine Tree Connector, heading S.
  13. 150 ftTurn right onto Explorer Loop, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading S.
  15. 400 ftSharp left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading SW.
  16. 0.3 miBear right onto Laurel Branch Road, heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lower Sidehill Trail, heading W.
  18. 200 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Branch Road, heading W.
  19. 0.6 miBear right, heading S.
  20. 0.3 miTurn right onto Sidehill Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Little Hickory Top, heading NE.
  22. 100 ftReach Lake Powhatan, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidehill Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  25. 0.3 miBear left onto Laurel Branch Road, heading SW.
  26. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Lower Sidehill Trail, heading S.
  27. 150 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Branch Road, heading S.
  28. 0.3 miBear left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading SE.
  29. 0.3 miSharp right onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading SE.
  30. 450 ftContinue straight onto Explorer Loop, heading NE.
  31. 500 ftTurn left onto Pine Tree Connector, heading NE.
  32. 200 ftBear left onto Pine Tree Loop, heading NE.
  33. 0.7 miTurn left onto Homestead Trail, heading N.
  34. 0.3 miSharp left, heading NE.
  35. 0.1 miTurn right onto Hardtimes Road, heading NE.
  36. 350 ftBear left onto Bent Creek Trail, heading SE.
  37. 1.2 miTurn left onto Running Cedar Road, heading E.
  38. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftTurn right onto Natural Garden Trail, heading NE.
  40. 0.4 miSharp left onto Wesley Branch Trail, heading NE.
  41. 150 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

43% dirt23% gravel34% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:55 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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