Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Proctor Field Gap–Sassafras Gap, 4 saddles
11.2 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft · 5 hr 33 min
Proctor Field Gap–Sassafras Gap, 4 saddles is an 11.2-mile out-and-back in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Fontana Village, NC. The route passes Sassafras Gap before reaching Proctor Field Gap at the turnaround, 5.6 miles in. It climbs 3,633 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Proctor Field Gap–Sassafras Gap, 4 saddles
11.2 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft · 5 hr 33 min
Elevation 1,883–3,905 ft
Out & Back · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Trailhead: Lakeshore Trailhead Westside · 35.46105, -83.81105
Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 88°F / low 68° · precip 7% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:11 AM · sunset 8:00 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Appalachian And Lakeshore Trailhead Parking, heading S.
- 3.7 miPass Sassafras Gap.
- 50 ftBear left onto Twentymile Trail, heading NW.
- 1.9 miSharp right onto Twentymile Loop Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftReach Proctor Field Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Twentymile Trail, heading N.
- 1.9 miBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
- 3.7 miArrive 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
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Lakeshore Trailhead Westside Trailhead
- Shuckstack–Sassafras Gap Loop, 4 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 3,002 ft
- Doe Knob–Buck Gap, 3 saddles 13.4 mi · ▲ 3,521 ft
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