Little Hickory Top Trail Map

Route map of the Little Hickory Top Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Little Hickory Top Trail Map

Route map of the Little Hickory Top Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Little Hickory Top Trail/F.R. 479F Junction -- 2,350'

Three-quarters of a mile from the closest road (F.R. 479) is the Y-split where the Little Hickory Top Trail breaks to the left off of F.R. 479F...

Little Hickory Top Trail/F.R. 479F Junction -- 2,350'

The Little Hickory Top Trail as it departs from F.R. 479F...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,380'

For much of its length the Little Hickory Top Trail follows the route of Forest Road 479F so, for now, the feel remains that of a road-walk rather than a path...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,420'

Not far up the Little Hickory Top the route makes a tight left turn, seen here. After this the trail gets a bit more serious about the climb...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,430'

The open bend provides some nice views of the hills to the east...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,450'

Alright, time to get serious about the climb...the grade now goes from gradual to moderate in steepness...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,480'

A recently logged area lying just uphill from the trail/road...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,520'

Spring greens at Bent Creek are something to see...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,560'

There isn't much to see as the trail winds its way up the side of the ridge...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,600'

Looking into the treetops...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,640'

Nearing the point where the trail curves around the south end of the ridge...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,660'

Now curving back in a more northerly direction...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,680'

The relentless uphill climb continues...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,700'

This break in the trees allows for a glimpse of the ridge ahead which the trail is heading for...still a ways to climb...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,730'

The surroundings get tight briefly...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,750'

Some of the trees seen along the way are quite impressive...

Little Hickory Top/Sidehill Trail Junction -- 2,760'

About 1.2-miles after leaving F.R. 479F, the trail passes the Sidehill Trail (on the right here, looking back at the junction)...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,780'

Still climbing...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,800'

There are hopes of views at these open logged areas...as you can see though, they aren't very impressive...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,800'

At this point the uphill grind has eased and, as you can see, the trail has officially left the roadbed behind and is now simply a good old-fashioned footpath...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,820'

Another opening gives a nice glimpse of the ridge above...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,820'

A tunnel of green...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,830'

Passing another opening, this one again with no view...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,840'

At this point the climb has become much more gradual...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,850'

Passing through another clear cut opening...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,850'

This latest opening offers this view looking back. The ridge seen above is a southeastern arm of nearby Stradley Mountain...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,860'

A typical view uphill along this part of the trail...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,880'

Somewhere unseen ahead and above, at this spot, is the trails namesake peak...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,900'

It's hard to capture in a photo but the hillside here is fairly steep, making one appreciate the easy route the trail is finding to the top of the ridge...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,920'

The grade increases again as the trail turns north, along the east summit slopes of Little Hickory Top...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,940'

By the depressions in its bark, this tree and its vine have enjoyed a close relationship for some time...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,950'

The Little Hickory Top Trail as it arrives at the crest of the ridge at Ingles Field Gap...

Little Hickory Top Trail @ Ingles Fields Gap -- 2,940'

The Little Hickory Top Trail as it arrives at its upper terminus, with the North Boundary Road, at Ingles Field Gap...

Ingles Fields Gap Junction (North Boundary Road, Little Hickory Top, & Ingles Field Gap Trails) -- 2,940'

The Little Hickory Top Trail as it arrives at its upper terminus, as seen from the North Boundary Road, at Ingles Field Gap.