Old Fontana Forest Road

3 mi · ▲ 752 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Old Fontana Forest Road is a 3-mile out-and-back near Fontana Village, NC. It climbs 752 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi1,729 – 2,116 ft · steepest grade: 22%3.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Appalachian Trail 35.44167, -83.79588
Nearest town Fontana Village, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Old Fontana Forest Road

3 mi · ▲ 752 ft · 1 hr 23 min

Elevation 1,730–2,118 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Appalachian Trail · 35.44167, -83.79588

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 7:58 PM

Toilets at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading W.
  4. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Bee Cove Trail, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  7. 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
  8. 0.4 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right onto Bee Cove Trail, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Fontana Forest Road, heading NW.
  12. 0.7 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  14. 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

49% gravel10% dirt1% paved40% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:11 AMSunset 7:58 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~36 min). Leave by 7:03 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead

More from Appalachian Trail Trailhead