Appalachian Trail: Dicks Creek Gap to Winding Stair Gap
Perfect for a weeklong jaunt, this 38-mile section climbs mountains, winds through deep gaps and passes a short side hike to Standing Indian Mountain, where Indian lore says a bolt of lighting struck a lone Cherokee sentinel and turned him to stone.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Shelters: Plumorchard Gap Shelter: sleeps 14; privy. Muskrat Creek Shelter: sleeps 8; privy. Standing Indian Shelter: sleeps 8; privy. Carter Gap Shelters (old and new: old sleeps 6, new sleeps 8; privy). Big Spring Shelter: sleeps 8; privy. Rock Gap Shelter: sleeps 8; privy.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 60.9
Waypoints
WPT001
Location: 35.0590324401856, -83.478630065918
Big Spring Shelter
WPT001
Location: 34.9102172851562, -83.6044158935547
Campsite (room for 10 tents)
WPT002
Location: 35.0376663208008, -83.5615692138672
Wateroak Gap; campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT002
Location: 35.0361328125, -83.5374984741211
Jct. with Lower Ridge Trail
WPT002
Location: 35.0206184387207, -83.5816650390625
Side trail to Muskrat Creek Shelter
WPT002
Location: 35.0589332580566, -83.4782333374024
Side trail to shelter
WPT002
Location: 34.9104843139648, -83.6044464111328
Side trail to campsite
WPT003
Location: 35.0298004150391, -83.5716323852539
Bear R (NE) @ Y with Chunky Gal Trail
WPT003
Location: 35.0204658508301, -83.581787109375
Blue-blazed Raven Rock Trail to the W
WPT003
Location: 35.0587844848633, -83.4781799316406
Pinnacle Trail
WPT003
Location: 35.0411834716797, -83.5479965209961
Side trail to shelter
WPT003
Location: 34.9133834838867, -83.6135635375976
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT004
Location: 35.0417327880859, -83.5479965209961
Standing Indian Shelter
WPT004
Location: 34.9122314453125, -83.6189193725586
Dicks Creek Gap/US 76; parking; picnic area
WPT004
Location: 35.0268821716309, -83.572135925293
Whiteoak Stamp; campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT004
Location: 35.0554008483887, -83.4776000976562
AT turns E @ jct. with blue-blazed trail that heads W
WPT004
Location: 35.0172996520996, -83.581184387207
Small stream crossing
WPT005
Location: 35.0527000427246, -83.4775009155274
AT crests summit of Albert Mtn.; tower on summit
WPT005
Location: 35.0417327880859, -83.5478134155274
Water
WPT005
Location: 35.0210342407227, -83.5816192626953
Side trail to Muskrat Creek Shelter
WPT005
Location: 35.0144653320312, -83.5803985595703
Piped spring (may be dry)
WPT006
Location: 35.0099983215332, -83.5828628540039
Sassafras Gap
WPT006
Location: 35.0416984558106, -83.5479202270508
Side trail to water
WPT006
Location: 35.0522651672363, -83.4773178100586
Views to the E
WPT006
Location: 35.020881652832, -83.581413269043
Muskrat Creek Shelter
WPT007
Location: 35.0429840087891, -83.5478973388672
Side trail to campsite (room for 3 tents)
WPT007
Location: 35.0004653930664, -83.5887985229492
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT007
Location: 35.0508155822754, -83.4761199951172
Steep and rocky; stairs
WPT008
Location: 35.0506324768066, -83.4748687744141
Blue-blazed bypass trail to the W; gravel road
WPT008
Location: 35.0440483093262, -83.5481338500976
Campsite (room for 3 tents)
WPT008
Location: 34.9964828491211, -83.593132019043
Blue-blazed trail leads E
WPT009
Location: 34.9941825866699, -83.5986862182617
AT turns W @ jct. with trail that continues straight
WPT009
Location: 35.0498657226562, -83.4732818603516
Well-graded, easy-going terrain
WPT009
Location: 35.0398178100586, -83.5523681640625
Deep Gap. Cross FS 71. Camping: To reach Standing Indian Campground, follow Kimsey Trail (on left) for 3.8 miles
WPT010
Location: 35.0496673583984, -83.4729843139648
Campsite (room for 3 tents)
WPT010
Location: 34.9942817687988, -83.5989990234375
Bly Gap. Views to the NNW; pass a gnarled oak. Side trail to the W leads to campsite (room for 4 tents)
WPT011
Location: 35.0468482971191, -83.4715347290039
Bearpen Gap
WPT011
Location: 34.9942169189453, -83.599983215332
AT turns E
WPT012
Location: 35.0466651916504, -83.4712982177734
Campsite (room for 4 tents)
WPT012
Location: 34.9939002990723, -83.5999298095703
Blue-blazed trail leads E. Campsite (room for 4 tents)
WPT013
Location: 35.0370826721191, -83.4716644287109
Large pipe to the E
WPT013
Location: 34.9933013916016, -83.6000518798828
NC-GA state line
WPT014
Location: 34.9846153259277, -83.5982513427734
Good winter views to the SW
WPT014
Location: 35.1206817626953, -83.5472183227539
Winding Stair Gap; cross US 64
WPT014
Location: 35.0357818603516, -83.4703979492188
Mooney Gap; FS 83
WPT015
Location: 35.034049987793, -83.4711837768555
Dry spring
WPT015
Location: 35.1196670532227, -83.5481796264648
Parking; piped spring
WPT015
Location: 34.9844512939453, -83.5974807739258
Side trail to the E to campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT016
Location: 34.9793510437012, -83.5971145629883
Saddle
WPT016
Location: 35.1166152954102, -83.545051574707
Stream crossing
WPT017
Location: 34.9710502624512, -83.5940704345703
Rich Cove Gap
WPT017
Location: 35.110050201416, -83.5361862182617
Side trail to the E to campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT017
Location: 35.0284652709961, -83.4780197143555
Betty Creek Gap; campsite (room for 4 tents); multi-use trail
WPT018
Location: 35.0243835449219, -83.4822311401367
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT018
Location: 35.1050682067871, -83.5342025756836
Well-graded trail
WPT018
Location: 34.9688148498535, -83.594352722168
Trail to the W travels to campsite (room for 4 tents); blue-blazed trail leads 20 ft. to spring (may be dry)
WPT019
Location: 34.9587669372559, -83.5964508056641
Blue Ridge Gap; cross FS 79
WPT019
Location: 35.0191650390625, -83.477897644043
Campsite (room for 1 tent)
WPT020
Location: 34.9528007507324, -83.5923004150391
As Knob
WPT020
Location: 35.0078315734863, -83.4810638427734
Views of valley to the SE
WPT020
Location: 35.1020851135254, -83.5298690795898
Jct. with old AT; campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT021
Location: 35.0998153686523, -83.5283966064453
Stream crossing; pipe
WPT021
Location: 34.9515838623047, -83.5901641845703
AT traverses As Knob
WPT021
Location: 35.0026016235352, -83.4875183105469
Spring
WPT022
Location: 34.9494514465332, -83.5900497436524
15-ft. boulder on side of AT
WPT022
Location: 35.0994834899902, -83.527946472168
Evergreens transition to deciduous
WPT022
Location: 35.0014839172363, -83.4884185791016
Stream crossing
WPT023
Location: 34.9994010925293, -83.4942474365234
Side trail to the E to new Carter Gap Shelter
WPT023
Location: 35.099048614502, -83.5276489257812
Power line
WPT023
Location: 34.946231842041, -83.5911483764648
Plumorchard Gap; side trail to shelter to the E; blue-blazed trail leads W to good spring; cross old jeep road
WPT024
Location: 34.999584197998, -83.4946975708008
Side trail to the W to old Carter Gap Shelter
WPT024
Location: 34.9361991882324, -83.6021499633789
Bull Gap
WPT024
Location: 35.0985832214356, -83.5273361206055
Jeep road
WPT025
Location: 34.9173851013184, -83.5956802368164
Cowart Gap; side trail to the W leads to water; trail and jeep road cross AT; campsite (room for 3 tents)
WPT025
Location: 35.0981674194336, -83.5268859863281
Wallace Gap; cross old US 64
WPT025
Location: 34.9998664855957, -83.4947204589844
Carter Gap Shelter
WPT026
Location: 34.9159507751465, -83.5979537963867
Rock stairs
WPT026
Location: 35.0028991699219, -83.4990158081055
Blue-blazed Timber Ridge Trail to the W; campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT026
Location: 35.0966987609863, -83.5219802856445
Loose, rocky terrain
WPT027
Location: 35.0946502685547, -83.5223693847656
Campsite (room for 1 tent)
WPT027
Location: 35.0054321289062, -83.5099487304688
Coleman Gap
WPT027
Location: 34.9156837463379, -83.5982513427734
Spring
WPT028
Location: 35.0942344665527, -83.5224533081055
Rock Gap. Wasilik Poplar Trail to the E travels .5 mi. to tree; parking. Paved road leads to Standing Indian Campground (RV’s, bathrooms, etc.)
WPT028
Location: 34.9143676757812, -83.5992202758789
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT028
Location: 35.0053825378418, -83.5101318359375
Tiny stream crossing
WPT029
Location: 35.0057983398438, -83.5154037475586
Stream crossing
WPT029
Location: 35.0924835205078, -83.5227966308594
Side trail to shelter
WPT029
Location: 34.9109649658203, -83.6038665771484
Blue-blazed trail leads E to water
WPT030
Location: 35.0915336608887, -83.5230178833008
Rock Gap Shelter
WPT030
Location: 34.910701751709, -83.6041870117188
AT turns W @ signed jct. with blue-blazed trail to campsite
WPT030
Location: 35.005500793457, -83.518684387207
Stream crossing
WPT031
Location: 35.0099983215332, -83.5257339477539
Beech Gap; Beech Gap Trail to the W; campsite (room for 7 tents); blue-blazed trail leads E to water
WPT031
Location: 34.9103507995606, -83.6042175292969
Campsite (room for 10 tents)
WPT031
Location: 35.0824317932129, -83.51171875
Campsite (room for 3 tents)
WPT032
Location: 35.0276336669922, -83.5322647094726
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT032
Location: 35.0794486999512, -83.5071868896484
Glassmine Gap
WPT033
Location: 35.0312652587891, -83.5355529785156
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT033
Location: 35.0771484375, -83.5023651123047
Blue-blazed Long Branch Trail leads to Standing Indian Campground
WPT034
Location: 35.0361824035644, -83.5372467041016
Blue-blazed Lower Ridge Trail to the W; blue-blazed trail to the E leads to Standing Indian summit
WPT034
Location: 35.0737648010254, -83.4978637695312
Tiny spring
WPT035
Location: 35.0719337463379, -83.4967193603516
Piped spring
WPT036
Location: 35.0353660583496, -83.5380020141602
Views to the WSW
WPT036
Location: 35.0706481933594, -83.4966201782226
Small stream crossing
WPT037
Location: 35.0696983337402, -83.4969177246094
Stream crossing
WPT038
Location: 35.069465637207, -83.4971160888672
AT turns E (pay attention; may be confusing)
WPT039
Location: 35.0666656494141, -83.4884643554688
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
WPT040
Location: 35.0617980957031, -83.4816360473633
Campsite (room for 2 tents)
