AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Upper Cedar Rock Falls–Cat Gap, 3 saddles

14.6 mi · ▲ 4,050 ft · 6 hr 53 min

Upper Cedar Rock Falls–Cat Gap, 3 saddles is a 14.6-mile out-and-back near Ecusta, NC. The route passes Cat Gap before reaching Upper Cedar Rock Falls at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It climbs 4,050 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,129 – 3,845 ft · steepest grade: 22%14.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Estatoe Trail 35.27350, -82.70677
Nearest town Ecusta, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Upper Cedar Rock Falls–Cat Gap, 3 saddles

14.6 mi · ▲ 4,050 ft · 6 hr 53 min

Elevation 2,128–3,844 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Estatoe Trail · 35.27350, -82.70677

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 92°F / low 69° · precip 15% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.4 miTurn right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
  3. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Joel Branch Road, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
  5. 1.4 miTurn left onto North Slope Connector Trail, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SW.
  7. 2.3 miContinue straight onto Cat Gap Loop Trail, heading W.
  8. 50 ftPass Cat Gap.
  9. 1.6 miTurn right, heading N.
  10. 50 ftReach Upper Cedar Rock Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NE.
  12. 2.3 miBear left onto North Slope Connector Trail, heading N.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading N.
  14. 1.4 miContinue straight onto Joel Branch Road, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NE.
  16. 1.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/upper-cedar-rock-falls-cat-gap-out-back-3-saddles-23-km-e12a

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 92°F69°
Precip15%Wind1 mphUV7Humidity83%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
95°65° 1 AM: 1% rain2 AM: 1% rain5 AM: 1% rain6 AM: 1% rain10 AM: 1% rain11 AM: 1% rain12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 5% rain2 PM: 5% rain3 PM: 12% rain4 PM: 12% rain5 PM: 15% rain6 PM: 14% rain7 PM: 9% rain8 PM: 8% rain9 PM: 6% rain10 PM: 8% rain11 PM: 8% rain
Sunrise 7:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sun 86°68° 65%
Mon 75°66° 56%
Tue 80°61° 15%
Wed 87°62°
Thu 90°66° 20%
Fri 85°67° 41%

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Estatoe Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Ecusta, North Carolina