Yellow Creek Mountain Trail

Trails Page	Yellow Creek Mountain Trail #48
Cable Cove Cheoah Trail Fitness Trail Hangover Lead Joyce Kilmer Lewellyn Cove Lookout Rock Mouse Branch Naked Ground Panther Creek Rattler Ford Santeetlah Creek Slickrock Creek Snowbird Nature Stecoah Gap Swan Cabin Thompson Tsali Yellow Creek Yellowhammer	Trailhead: The trailhead is located on Meadows Road about 25 yards from the intersection with Highway 129. Distance: This is a 9.3 mile trail. There are three ways to experience this trail: 1. Camp overnight and backtrack to the trailhead, for a hike of 18.6 miles; 2. A 12 mile through hike to NC Highway 28; 3. A 13 mile through trail on the AT to Yellow Creek Gap at Tuskeegee Road (State Road 1242). You would need to arrange prior transportation for pickup or pre-position a vehicle on the through hike routes. Difficulty: It is rated as a strenuous to very strenuous hiking trail. Use Guide: Yellow Creek Mountain Trail is recommended for intermediate or experienced hikers in good condition. This trail would be too much of a challenge for families with small children. With a group at a casual pace, allow 8-9 hours for a one way hike. For the more aggressive hiker, 5-6 hours should be sufficient time for a one way hike. Bring water and protective clothing if your trip is going to be more than a few hours. Description: The trailhead is marked by signs and a small footbridge that crosses Meadows Branch. You will begin a steep switchback climb to the ridge line. Just short of 1˝ miles you will be in Bearpen Gap with overhead power lines as a landmark. Scenic views will vary with the seasons of the year. Generally you will have views of the Cheoah River and Cheoah Valley. There are a number of old roads and trails that intersect Yellow Creek Mountain Trail. These should be avoided. The trail is marked with a blue blaze on trail side trees. At 1.8 miles you will come to SR-1249, Oldfield Gap Road. Cross this road and take a left to go up to another ridge line. From this point on it is a series of up and down slopes through several gaps. At 7ž miles you will come to the trail intersection with Lookout Rock Trail which leads to Fontana Village. At 9.3 miles you arrive at the terminus of Yellow Creek Mountain Trail. Here it intersects with the Appalachian Trail. At this point you can backtrack; go 2.7 miles north on the AT to Highway 28 above the Fontana Village swimming pool; or go south on the AT for 3.7 miles to Tuskeegee Road at Yellow Creek Gap. Transportation arrangement would have to be made for your pickup at either of these through points.

Yellow Creek Mountain Trail #48

Cable Cove
Cheoah Trail
Fitness Trail
Hangover Lead
Joyce Kilmer
Lewellyn Cove
Lookout Rock
Mouse Branch
Naked Ground
Panther Creek
Rattler Ford
Santeetlah Creek
Slickrock Creek
Snowbird Nature
Stecoah Gap
Swan Cabin
Thompson
Tsali
Yellow Creek
Yellowhammer

Trailhead: The trailhead is located on Meadows Road about 25 yards from the intersection with Highway 129.
Distance: This is a 9.3 mile trail. There are three ways to experience this trail:
1. Camp overnight and backtrack to the trailhead, for a hike of 18.6 miles;
2. A 12 mile through hike to NC Highway 28;
3. A 13 mile through trail on the AT to Yellow Creek Gap at Tuskeegee Road (State Road 1242).
You would need to arrange prior transportation for pickup or pre-position a vehicle on the through hike routes.
Difficulty: It is rated as a strenuous to very strenuous hiking trail.
Use Guide: Yellow Creek Mountain Trail is recommended for intermediate or experienced hikers in good condition. This trail would be too much of a challenge for families with small children. With a group at a casual pace, allow 8-9 hours for a one way hike. For the more aggressive hiker, 5-6 hours should be sufficient time for a one way hike. Bring water and protective clothing if your trip is going to be more than a few hours.
Description: The trailhead is marked by signs and a small footbridge that crosses Meadows Branch. You will begin a steep switchback climb to the ridge line. Just short of 1˝ miles you will be in Bearpen Gap with overhead power lines as a landmark. Scenic views will vary with the seasons of the year. Generally you will have views of the Cheoah River and Cheoah Valley. There are a number of old roads and trails that intersect Yellow Creek Mountain Trail. These should be avoided. The trail is marked with a blue blaze on trail side trees. At 1.8 miles you will come to SR-1249, Oldfield Gap Road. Cross this road and take a left to go up to another ridge line. From this point on it is a series of up and down slopes through several gaps. At 7ž miles you will come to the trail intersection with Lookout Rock Trail which leads to Fontana Village. At 9.3 miles you arrive at the terminus of Yellow Creek Mountain Trail. Here it intersects with the Appalachian Trail. At this point you can backtrack; go 2.7 miles north on the AT to Highway 28 above the Fontana Village swimming pool; or go south on the AT for 3.7 miles to Tuskeegee Road at Yellow Creek Gap. Transportation arrangement would have to be made for your pickup at either of these through points.