Rice Gap–Rice Creek Road, 3 saddles
12.2 mi · ▲ 3,429 ft · 5 hr 47 min
Rice Gap–Rice Creek Road, 3 saddles is a 12.2-mile out-and-back near Carmen, NC. The route passes Devil Fork Gap and Rice Gap. It climbs 3,429 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rice Gap–Rice Creek Road, 3 saddles
12.2 mi · ▲ 3,429 ft · 5 hr 47 min
Elevation 2,944–4,577 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Appalachian Trail · 36.01035, -82.60881
Weather Sep 4: Light rain, high 86°F / low 67° · precip 8% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Devil Fork Gap.
- 5.2 miPass Rice Gap.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Rice Creek Road, heading NE.
- 0.9 miReach Rice Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
- 5.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~109 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Appalachian Trail Trailhead
- Appalachian Viewpoint & Devil Fork Gap via Appalachian Trail 6.6 mi · ▲ 1,928 ft
- Blockstand Creek Trail–Flint Mountain Trail, 3 sights 10.1 mi · ▲ 1,489 ft
- Blockstand Creek Access Trail–Flint Creek Trail, 5 sights 13.5 mi · ▲ 2,237 ft
- Whitehouse Cliffs–Blockstand Creek Access Trail, 7 sights 14 mi · ▲ 2,860 ft
- High Rock–Appalachian Viewpoint, 4 saddles 14.1 mi · ▲ 3,681 ft
- Big Butt–Flint Gap, 3 saddles 14.1 mi · ▲ 2,301 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Carmen, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Carmen, North Carolina