Appalachian Trail #1 (Bly Gap to Rock Gap)
Location: Western North Carolina
Trip Starts: Bly Gap (GA/NC Border)
Trip Ends: Rock Gap
Total Distance: 27.5 miles
Hike Type: One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Difficulty: Difficult
Trails Used: Appalachian Trail
Trail Traffic: Heavy
Trip Type: Multi-Day Hike
More Information:
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
799 West Washington Street
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331
Highlights:
This is the first section of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina which starts in Bly Gap at the border with Georgia. Standing Indian at 5,498 feet is the first place the A.T. goes above 5,000 feet for the northbound hiker, and it has excellent views from a grassy area (and former site of a fire tower). Albert Mountain is the next major climb in this section, and the fire tower is still standing on the mountain (although the enclosed top is locked and off limits to hikers.) Albert has 360 degree views of the Blue Ridge, the Little Tennessee Valley and the Nantahala National Forest.
More Details:
- click to view a short video slideshow of my 1994 hike on the Appalachian Trail
- click to see trail photos from this backpacking trip in North Carolina: April 19-21, 1994
- click to see more trail photos from this area in the Nantahala National Forest: January 26, 2002
- click to view a trail journal from this section of the A.T. starting at Bly Gap: April 19-21, 1994
- click to view maps of this Appalachian Trail hike ending at Rock Gap: area map, GA/NC to Timber Ridge Trail Profile Map (password required), Timber Ridge Trail to Wallace Gap Profile Map (password required), GA/NC Border to Wallace Gap Trail Map (password required)
- click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
- click for the Long Trail discussion forum
- click for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
- click for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
- click to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
- click for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
- click for other hikes on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina
- click here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination
