AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Upper Cedar Rock Falls–Horse Cove, 5 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 1,277 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Upper Cedar Rock Falls–Horse Cove, 5 sights is a 6.7-mile out-and-back near Laurel Falls, NC. The route passes Horse Cove before reaching Upper Cedar Rock Falls at the turnaround, 3.4 miles in. It climbs 1,277 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,323 – 3,110 ft · steepest grade: 22%6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Cat Gap Loop 35.28433, -82.79055
Nearest town Laurel Falls, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Upper Cedar Rock Falls–Horse Cove, 5 sights

6.7 mi · ▲ 1,277 ft · 2 hr 52 min

Elevation 2,322–3,109 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Cat Gap Loop · 35.28433, -82.79055

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Cat Gap Loop, heading E.
  2. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Cat Gap Loop Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.2 miPass Horse Cove.
  5. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Cat Gap Bypass Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.7 miTurn right onto Cat Gap Loop Trail, heading N.
  7. 1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  8. 50 ftReach Upper Cedar Rock Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 1 miTurn left onto Cat Gap Bypass Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Cat Gap Loop Trail, heading NE.
  11. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Cat Gap Loop, heading N.
  13. 0.8 miBear right, heading W.
  14. 50 ftArrive 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-horse-cove-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:54 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Cat Gap Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Laurel Falls, North Carolina