Buckhorn Gap Trail Map

Route map for the Buckhorn Gap Trail as tracked (over multiple trips) by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Buckhorn Gap Trail Map

Route map for the Buckhorn Gap Trail as tracked (over multiple trips) by the Gaia GPS app...

Buckhorn Gap Trailhead (F.R. 477) -- 2,600'

This is the small pull-off, along Forest Road 477, which is located at the south end of the Buckhorn Gap Trail. This spot is located 2.7-miles north of U.S. 276 and/or 0.9-miles north of the Pisgah Horse Stables...

Buckhorn Gap Trailhead (F.R. 477) -- 2,600'

The Buckhorn Gap Trail as it departs from its trailhead on Forest Road 477...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,580'

A gradual descent through a green tunnel of rhododendron starts things off...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,560'

The trail isn't in a real hurry to get to the bottom of the valley but rather follows a gradual meandering descent along the ridgeline...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,540'

Passing a small, rain-swollen, tributary...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,560'

Getting a bit closer to Avery Creek now...

Buckhorn Gap Trail (Avery Creek Falls) -- 2,560'

Rushing water can now be heard and soon Avery Creek Falls appears through the trees below. There is no good approach from this side of the creek, access is via the Avery Creek Trail which the Buckhorn Gap Trail intersects shortly...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,560'

After a meandering first 3/4-mile, the trail finally drops into the flat lands along Avery Creek...

Buckhorn Gap/Avery Creek Trail Lower Junction -- 2,560'

About 8/10-mile along, the Buckhorn Gap Trail comes to its lower junction with the Avery Creek Trail which arrives from the right. For the next few hundred yards the two trails coincide...

(This is where you could take a right to see Avery Creek Falls a short distance downstream)

Buckhorn Gap/Avery Creek Trail -- 2,570'

At this point the trail pulls right up next to the cluttered creek...

Buckhorn Gap/Avery Creek Trail -- 2,570'

This is a beautiful stretch along Avery Creek...

Buckhorn Gap/Avery Creek Trail -- 2,580'

Just before reaching the two trails upper junction the route hops across the small channel via a wobbly log bridge...

Buckhorn Gap/Avery Creek Trail Upper Junction -- 2,580'

Arriving at the upper junction of the Avery Creek and Buckhorn Gap Trails. The Buckhorn Gap Trail now makes a turn right to immediately cross a large bridge over Avery Creek. The Avery Creek Trail continues straight ahead...

Buckhorn Gap/Avery Creek Trail Upper Junction -- 2,580'

Looking to the right at the Buckhorn Gap-Avery Creek upper trail junction. The Buckhorn Gap Trail breaks away to cross Avery Creek, as seen here...

Buckhorn Gap Trail @ Avery Creek -- 2,580'

Overlooking Avery Creek from the bridge in the previous photo...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,580'

Immediately after crossing the log bridge, seen here looking back, the Buckhorn Gap Trail makes a sharp left...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,580'

The trail now turns its back on Avery Creek as it begins ascending the valley of Henry Branch...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,590'

Huge dead trees dominate the surroundings here...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,600'

Though noticeably ascending now, the grade remains very easy...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,600'

It's always a bit odd to find these old signs far from trail junctions. I always wonder what prompted those who hung them to choose these seemingly random spots...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,610'

The Buckhorn Gap Trail as it makes its lower crossing of Henry Branch...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,620'

Ascending along Henry Branch through yet another grove of deceased hemlock...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,620'

Turning to make a second crossing of Henry Branch (fourth if southbound)...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,630'

Immediately beyond the last crossing of Henry Branch the trail makes its first substantial climb of the day via some over-sized wooden steps...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,660'

Gloomy days make all the dead hemlocks along this trail look even more forlorn...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,650'

Another oddity...a short stretch of poured concrete path leads down this slope back towards the river...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,650'

The trail seems to split here with the path on the left leading to a ford of Henry Branch. Bear right, though, to the bridged crossing in the next shot...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,650'

The third crossing (both ways) reached of Henry Branch sports a fairly sturdy log bridge...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,660'

Looking up the neighboring slope...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,670'

Crossing #4 (#2 if southbound)...

Henry Branch -- 2,670'

Looking downstream this latest crossing of Henry Branch...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,680'

An easy uphill grade once again...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,690'

Now for the uppermost crossing of the Buckhorn Gap Trail over Henry Branch...

Buckhorn Gap/Twin Falls Trail Lower Junction -- 2,700'

Just beyond the upper crossing a sign appears on the left, marking the lower end of the Twin Falls Trail...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,710'

There is barely 2/10-mile separating the lower and upper junctions with the Twin Falls Trail, between which the terrain climbs at an easy grade...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,720'

The trail has now pulled high above Henry Branch, it'll be lost to sight from here on...

Buckhorn Gap/Twin Falls Trail Upper Junction -- 2,740'

The Buckhorn Gap Trail as it arrives at its upper junction with the Twin Falls Trail. The Buckhorn Gap Trail makes a sharp right to climb the ridge while the TFT begins straight ahead to the left of the hitching posts...

Buckhorn Gap/Twin Falls Trail Upper Junction -- 2,740'

The Twin Falls Trail departs straight ahead, to the left of the hitching posts, at the upper junction...

Buckhorn Gap/Twin Falls Trail Upper Junction -- 2,740'

The Buckhorn Gap Trail as seen if arriving via the Twin Falls Trail. To the right the BGT heads downhill barely 2/10-mile to the lower junction while to the left it immediately begins a steep climb of the ridge beyond...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,750'

From the upper junction, the Buckhorn Gap Trail turns generally eastward to climb the moderately-steep hillside above...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,800'

The popularity of this trail is evidenced in some ugly erosion damage in places...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,800'

Rhodos below, hardwoods above...the Pisgah way...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,820'

Leveling off briefly as the route enters the shallow drainage of a tiny tributary of Henry Branch...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,820'

The trail crossing the aforementioned tributary...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,850'

The climb resumes...

Buckhorn Gap Trail -- 2,880'

Moderately steep now, the trail now becomes a bit more rocky...