Bracken Preserve

Sandy Gap via Art Loeb Trail

4.6 mi · ▲ 1,661 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Sandy Gap via Art Loeb Trail is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Bracken Preserve near Laurel Falls, NC. The route reaches Sandy Gap at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It climbs 1,661 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,753 – 3,885 ft · steepest grade: 24%4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 35.24215, -82.77167
Nearest town Laurel Falls, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sandy Gap via Art Loeb Trail

4.6 mi · ▲ 1,661 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Elevation 2,753–3,886 ft

Out & Back · Bracken Preserve

Trailhead: 35.24215, -82.77167

Weather Sep 4: Mostly clear, high 87°F / low 68° · precip 16% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 1 miSharp left, heading NW.
  3. 1.2 miTurn left onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miReach Sandy Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 1.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  7. 1 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

Mostly clearTemperature 87°F68°
Precip16%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity69%
Rained 0.3″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65° 1 PM: 1% rain2 PM: 5% rain3 PM: 12% rain4 PM: 16% rain5 PM: 15% rain6 PM: 8% rain7 PM: 5% rain8 PM: 7% rain9 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 7:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat 89°70° 18%
Sun 86°66° 61%
Mon 73°64° 43%
Tue 76°59°
Wed 83°60°
Thu 91°64°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~74 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

More from this trailhead