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+ 71

Squirrel Gap -> Turkey Pen (Squirrel Gap Buckhorn Gap Turkey Pen Black Mountain Trail Squirrel Pen Trail)

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
25.5 mi
4,854 ft
An epic loop featuring some of Pisgah's most remote trails.

"This is the Squirrel Gap / Turkey Pen epic that everybody talks about," writes Pisgah-Area SORBA. This route provides "tons of serious backwoods slogging on Pisgah’s most remote trails." You'd better be prepared and fully equipped because there are "no bailouts."

Feel intimidated yet? You probably should be.

In classic Pisgah style this route features steep climbs... and descents that are even steeper. A never-ending array of root webs, rocks, boulders, rock gardens, and washed out singletrack will challenge anyone foolhardy enough to attempt this epic loop. In fact, the singletrack is so narrow in places that some locals affectionately refer to it as "half-track."

Also in classic Pisgah style this trail fords through rushing mountain streams and navigates the dense Appalachian rainforest. Since you'll be miles from nowhere and completely isolated, make sure you take SORBA's advice and prepare for the unexpected.

Sources:

Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Turkey Pen Parking Lot to Bridge DH*...and yes this segment ends across the bridge0.44 mi-249 ft-10.5%
Turkey Pen Parking Lot to Bridge0.37 mi-233 ft-11.7%
South Fork to Laurel Gap - PSR Day 23.75 mi1,070 ft5.4%
Turkey Pen Rd Climb1.32 mi561 ft8.0%
Bridge 2 Bridge via Squirrel/Mullinax 8.18 mi1,066 ft1.1%
Mullinax Trail - Climb1.53 mi525 ft5.2%
Mullinax first climb1.02 mi433 ft8.1%
National Forest Rd Climb1.98 mi656 ft6.2%
Squirrel Gap: Mullinax to Horse Cove4.76 mi659 ft2.2%
Squirrel Gap: Mullinax to New Cantrell Creek3.15 mi669 ft2.8%
Squirrel Gap: Laurel Gap to *NEW Cantrell Creek1.16 mi-197 ft-3.2%
Squirrel Gap: Laurel Gap to Cantrell Creek1.29 mi-217 ft-3.0%
Squirrel Gap: Horse Cove to Wolf Ford2.12 mi-302 ft-2.7%
Last Squirrel Standing1.20 mi-407 ft-6.4%
bridge at south mills to buckhorn climb2.55 mi371 ft2.8%
To the gauging station1.66 mi-203 ft-1.6%
U.S. 276 Climb0.85 mi472 ft10.5%
descent to Buckhorn0.80 mi-433 ft-10.2%
S Mills River Rd Climb1.16 mi591 ft9.6%
Buckhorn gap to Black Mountain1.49 mi676 ft8.5%
Upper Black 1st Climb0.72 mi502 ft13.1%
Hike a Bike < Black1.55 mi666 ft8.1%
Black MTN 1st DH0.22 mi-157 ft-13.2%
black hike a bike ?0.15 mi154 ft16.5%
S Mills River Rd Climb0.37 mi299 ft15.2%
Turkey Pen Gap Eastwards5.39 mi-1,430 ft-5.0%
Turkey pen Enduro #11.36 mi-843 ft-11.8%
Lookout Dr Climb0.43 mi351 ft15.2%
Turkey Pen Downhill0.38 mi-518 ft-25.7%
The Last Turkey Descent 0.41 mi-217 ft-10.0%