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Appalachian Trail

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.

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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)

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