Rich Mountain–Kagle Mountain Road, 3 summits
15.7 mi · ▲ 2,813 ft · 6 hr 38 min
Rich Mountain–Kagle Mountain Road, 3 summits is a 15.7-mile out-and-back near Balsam Grove, NC. The route passes Rich Mountain and Low Gap. It climbs 2,813 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi2,257 – 3,708 ft · steepest grade: 21%16.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Art Loeb Trail 35.26590, -82.84691
Nearest town Balsam Grove, NC
Directions
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Rich Mountain–Kagle Mountain Road, 3 summits
15.7 mi · ▲ 2,813 ft · 6 hr 38 min
Elevation 2,256–3,707 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Art Loeb Trail · 35.26590, -82.84691
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
- Start on Art Loeb Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miPass Rich Mountain.
- 2.4 miContinue straight onto Searcy Connector, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Low Gap.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Searcy Connector, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Searcy Connector, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Kagle Mountain Road, heading S.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Catheys Creek Road, heading SW.
- 2.2 miReach Rich Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miSharp right onto Kagle Mountain Road, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Searcy Connector, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Searcy Connector, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Searcy Connector, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NE.
- 2.7 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
44% dirt36% gravel20% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:56 PM
More from Art Loeb Trail Trailhead
- Lower Pilot Mountain Road & Pilot Mountain Road via Art Loeb Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 582 ft
- Art Loeb Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 2,355 ft
- Laurel Fork Falls–Middle Pilot Mountain Road, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,020 ft
- Lower Chestnut Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 5 sights 13.8 mi · ▲ 4,140 ft
- Upper Courthouse Falls–Lower Chestnut Falls, 7 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 4,519 ft
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