Rich Mountain–Deep Gap, 4 saddles

15.8 mi · ▲ 4,354 ft · 7 hr 27 min

Rich Mountain–Deep Gap, 4 saddles is a 15.8-mile out-and-back near Allenstand, NC. The route passes Deep Gap and Hurricane Gap before reaching Rich Mountain at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 4,354 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,221 – 3,658 ft · steepest grade: 23%16.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Appalachian Trail 35.99896, -82.77540
Nearest town Allenstand, NC

Directions

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Rich Mountain–Deep Gap, 4 saddles

15.8 mi · ▲ 4,354 ft · 7 hr 27 min

Elevation 2,221–3,657 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Appalachian Trail · 35.99896, -82.77540

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 87°F / low 72° · precip 6% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

  1. Start on Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
  2. 3.4 miPass Deep Gap.
  3. 3.6 miPass Hurricane Gap.
  4. 250 ftContinue straight onto Neal Barnett Road, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.7 miTurn right onto Rich Mountain Access Trail, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miReach Rich Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading SW.
  9. 0.7 miBear left onto Neal Barnett Road, heading N.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  11. 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 87°F72°
Precip6%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity74%
Hourly temperature
90°70°
Sunrise 7:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat 89°72° 29%
Sun 84°68° 30%
Mon 77°65°
Tue 83°59°
Wed 83°61°
Thu 86°65° 23%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:32 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:15 PM — 8 min before dark.

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