Coontree Loop Trail Map

Route of the Coontree Loop Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Coontree Loop Trail Map

Route of the Coontree Loop Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Coontree Picnic Area Trailhead -- 2,250'

The trailhead for the Coontree Loop is the Coontree Picnic Area, which is located along US-276 about 3/4-mile south of Looking Glass Falls...

Coontree Picnic Area Trailhead -- 2,250'

The trail itself begins just across the highway from the south entrance to the picnic area...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,250'

Starting the Coontree Loop...the trail as it enters the forest from US-276...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,260'

Hill cane covers the ground all around as the trail heads out...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,280'

This first section is pretty much flat as the trail crosses the floodplain alongside Coontree Creek...

Coontree Creek -- 2,280'

Pulling up alongside the stream from which the trail gets its name...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,300'

Before long the trail decides to jump Coontree Creek via this old but sturdy log bridge...

Coontree Creek -- 2,300'

Looking upstream from the log bridge in the previous shot...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,320'

Not far beyond the bridge is the point where the loop portion of the Coontree Loop begins. Right or left doesn't really matter here from a energy standpoint. In this album we'll go right to do the loop counterclockwise...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,320'

The trail as it begins if heading counterclockwise...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,300'

Approaching the eastern unnamed tributary of Coontree Creek...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,300'

Crossing the tiny unnamed eastern tributary of Coontree Creek, the valley of which the trail will now be ascending to reach the ridge...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,320'

Let the climb begin...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,400'

The woodland, as the trail begins to climb, is quite pretty as it's a mixed of tall pines and hardwoods...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,450'

Soon the path is far above the tiny tributary...it can be heard but not clearly seen as it's far below on the right at this point...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,500'

Steadily gaining elevation...though the grade never gets all that strenuous along this stretch...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,620'

As the trail nears the upper crossing of the tributary, the ridge it's headed toward can be more clearly seen (in winter) through the trees ahead...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,640'

The tributary the path has been following thus far is little more than a trickle here, at the upper crossing...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,650'

Looking back down the valley as the trail starts up the hill beyond the crossing in the previous shot...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,680'

The woodlands up here are remarkably open...it's fairly rare in North Carolina to be able to see so far through the trees...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,700'

The trail now gets a bit more serious about getting up to the ridge, so in a few places the slope gets fairly steep...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,760'

A beautiful view up a neighboring bowl in the hillside...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,800'

This picture doesn't really portray it that well but these colorful beech trees are HUGE...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,850'

Just a bit farther to climb...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,900'

The trail as it makes its final approach to the crest of the ridge...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail South Junction (Coontree Gap) -- 2,950'

The Coontree Loop as it joins the Bennett Gap Trail upon reaching the top of the ridge. Here the loop turns left and the two trails coincide for about mile...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail South Junction (Coontree Gap) -- 2,950'

Looking back at the Coontree Loop Trail as it arrives at Coontree Gap...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail South Junction (Coontree Gap) -- 2,950'

Beginning at Coontree Gap, the Coontree Loop Trail and Bennett Gap Trail will now coincide for the next mile...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,000'

Even though atop the ridge, the climbing isn't over...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,050'

To the northeast through the trees the nearby summit of Black Mountain (4,286') is easily seen...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,120'

Climbing through the open forest, up the southern ridge of Coontree Mountain...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,200'

One of the steepest stretches of trail thus far is here, near the upper end of the loop, on the south side of Coontree Mountain...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,300'

Passing through a colorful tunnel...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,320'

Now through some laurel...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,320'

Making the brief descent before the trail reaches the north end of the loop...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail North Junction -- 3,300'

Here, just south of the summit of Coontree Mountain, the Coontree Loop and Bennett Gap Trail part ways once again. To stay on the Coontree Loop keep left here to begin the descent off the ridge. I'd highly recommend continuing straight ahead on the Bennett Gap Trail for another 3/4-mile, however, where you'll visit beautiful Overlook Rock...

Coontree Loop/Bennett Gap Trail North Junction -- 3,300'

The Coontree Loop Trail at the northern end of the loop, where it splits from the Bennett Gap Trail. The western side of the loop now begins the descent from the ridge...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,280'

The Coontree Loop Trail as it begins its descent from the western junction with the Bennett Gap Trail...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,200'

The open forest floor, carpeted in a scattered covering of hill cane, continues to be quite beautiful...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,160'

Crossing one of the uppermost tributaries forming Coontree Creek, far below...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,160'

Some of the old log footbridges up here don't look to have many seasons of life left in them...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,100'

Entering a series of switchbacks which takes the trail down the steep ridge to Coontree Creek...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,050'

Switching back as the trail descends into the steep-sided valley...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 3,000'

Another simple old footbridge crosses another small tributary...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,900'

The surrounding rhododendrons thicken up as the trail nears the creek...

Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,850'

The trail finally drops alongside Coontree Creek at this huge snag...