Beartree Gap Trail

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Beartree Gap Trail

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Highlight Connector trail between AT and Iron Mountain Trail - North
Trail Number FST# 4551
Park Beartree Recreation Area
Located Damascus, VirginiaLocation inherited from associated park
Trail Marking Purple or Yellow Diamond
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail

HikingBiking

FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail

Mountains

Difficulty Rating Medium
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail. 2 hrs0.125 Days <br />120 Min <br /> round trip
Distance: 3.190 mi5.134 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 6.4 mi10.3 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type In-and-Out
Low / High Point 2,962 ft987.333 Yards <br />902.818 Meters <br />3,628 ft1,209.333 Yards <br />1,105.814 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent. 253 ft77.114 Meters <br /> / (817 ft249.022 Meters <br />) – North-to-South
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days No hikes logged yet
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list No other Trails within 5 mi
Parking 36° 39' 19.19" N, 81° 41' 24.76" W Map
Trailhead 36° 40' 39.32" N, 81° 40' 54.77" W Map
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Trail Overview[edit]

Connector trail between AT and Iron Mountain Trail - North.

How to get there[edit]

From Kingsport, TN

  1. North on I-81 into Virginia.
  2. Take Exit 19 (Abingdon) and turn right/east onto US-58.
  3. Go 12 miles to Damascus.
  4. Continue through town on US-58 and travel another 7 miles to the campground entrance on the left.
  5. Free parking on right in the fisherman’s lot.

Route Description[edit]

Beartree gap trail profile.png

Beartree Gap Trail is Forest Service Trail # 4551. Two different blazes reported as purple (rectangles?) – or yellow diamonds.

Distance from IMT (mi) Distance from AT (mi) Elevation (ft) Feature
0.0 3.2 3570 Iron Mountain Trail - North at Shaw's Gap
0.1 3.1 3560 Shaw Gap Trail - 1.01 mile to Beartree Rec. camping area
1.6 1.6 3225 Intersect Yancy Trail – 0.26 mile spur to Beartree Gap Road
2.4 0.8 2970 Cross Beartree Campground Road/FS Road 837
2.6 0.6 3040 Fisherman’s parking lot
2.8 0.4 3000 Cross dam for Beartree Dam
3.0 0.2 3050 Cross Highway US-58
0.0 3.2 3025 Appalachian Trail

The Mt. Rogers AT Club suggests that Beartree Gap Trail could part of a 25 mile loop hike on the Appalachian Trail, Iron Mountain Trail, and Feathercamp Ridge Trail.

Another proposed 11.2 mile loop hike involving this trail would be to start at Fisherman's parking lot, take this Beartree Gap Trail across US58 to the AT (~0.5 mi), southbound towards Saunders Shelter to Virginia Creeper Trail (4.1 mi), left/westbound on VCT through Taylors Valley to rejoin the AT (4.2 mi), southbound to Beartree Gap Trail (1.2), and back to the parking lot. Suggested that it could be done in six hours.

Fees, Permits, etc.[edit]

Park for free at front lot (outside gate). Main gate is open 7 AM-10 PM during April 15 through October 31 with $5 day use fee per vehicle.

Misc. Information[edit]

Beartree Recreation Area website

Photos[edit]