"Hardtimes Were Never So Easy"

GPS Coordinates: 35.49480, -82.61754 (Deer Lake Lodge Trail Junction)

GPS Coordinates: 35.48658, -82.62308 (Hardtimes Road Junction)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Southbound

Highlights: Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Family Friendly

Length (one-way): 0.9 miles

Petzoldt Rating: 1.22

Difficulty: EASY

Total Elevation Gain: 160'

Elevation Gain/Mile: 178'/mile

Min. Elevation: 2,120'

Max. Elevation: 2,250'

Blaze Color: ORANGE

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Bent Creek - Rice Pinnacle Double Loop

Connecting Trails:

Deer Lake Lodge Trail (#664)

Hardtimes Connector Trail (#661)

Hardtimes Connector Trail Map
Route map of the Hardtimes Connector Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Hardtimes Connector Trail Map
Route map of the Hardtimes Connector Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Hardtimes Connector/Deer Lake Lodge Trail Junction -- 2,140'
1/10-mile from the Rice Pinnacle Trailhead (via the Deer Lake Lodge Trail) is the eastern terminus of the Hardtimes Connector Trail, seen here entering the woods to the right of the bridge over Wolf Creek...
Hardtimes Connector/Deer Lake Lodge Trail Junction -- 2,140'
The east end of the Hardtimes Connector Trail as it departs the Deer Lake Lodge Trail...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,140'
Wide and winding as it starts out...
Hardtimes Connector Trail (F.R. 481 Crossing) -- 2,130'
The crossing of Forest Service Road 481 is quickly reached...
Hardtimes Connector Trail (F.R. 481 Crossing) -- 2,130'
The trail as it re-enters the woods on the south side of 481...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,120'
The trail immediately dips a bit to make a quick crossing of a small runoff tributary...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,160'
Now for an easy ascent...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,180'
A brief PSA...watch for bikes on this trail...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,220'
There's nothing super remarkable about this little trail, but its surroundings are beautiful...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,250'
Topping out on the broad ridge the trail has been climbing...
Hardtimes Connector Trail -- 2,200'
The descent off the low ridge is a bit steeper, and the muddy trail can be a bit slick after a rain...
Hardtimes Connector Trail/Hardtimes Road Junction -- 2,150'
Three-quarters of a mile after crossing 481 the Hardtimes Connector reaches its western terminus, at its T-junction with the Hardtimes Road...
Hardtimes Connector Trail/Hardtimes Road Junction -- 2,150'
The western terminus of the Hartimes Connector Trail (right) at the Hardtimes Road. The Hardtimes Trailhead is only a few hundred yards ahead through the woods in this shot.