Squirrel Gap Trail Map

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

Squirrel Gap Trail Map

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

Squirrel Gap/Bradley Creek Trail Junction -- 2,560'

The eastern terminus of the Squirrel Gap Trail, at its junction with the Bradley Creek Trail. The Bradley Creek Trail makes a hard turn here to cross Pea Branch and head over the ridge towards the South Fork Mills River. The Squirrel Gap Trail heads up the valley ahead...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,580'

The Squirrel Gap Trail begins its route west with a moderate ascent up the valley of Pea Branch...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,600'

Many giant dead hemlocks can be seen towering overhead in this area...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,630'

Breaking out above the rhododendron you get this nice view across the valley, in the direction of Pea Gap......

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,680'

A pair of old logs allows for a dry crossing of this tiny unnamed runoff tributary...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,700'

Looking ahead, the treetops above mark the ridge to which the trail is currently climbing...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,720'

Rhododendron like to taker advantage of what are known as 'nursery stumps' to help them grow when they are young. The advantage is that they utilize the nutrients provided by the decaying stump...if you've ever seen a rhodo in the woods which seems to be up on stilts this was probably a bush whose original nursery stump has decayed away...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,750'

The climb up the tunnel continues...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,800'

Mostly unseen up until this point, the trail now pulls right up alongside tiny Pea Branch...

Squirrel Gap Trail @ Pea Branch -- 2,820'

Not content to just follow it, the trail quickly turns to hop across Pea Branch...

Squirrel Gap/Mullinax Trail Junction -- 2,850'

3/4-mile above its eastern terminus, the Squirrel Gap Trail passes its junction with the Mullinax Trail, arriving from the south (left) just ahead in this shot...

Squirrel Gap/Mullinax Trail Junction -- 2,850'

The Squirrel Gap Trail as seen continuing westbound from the Mullinax Trail junction...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,900'

Passing through a beautiful laurel grove carpeted by club moss...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 2,950'

The trail now begins a briefly moderate climb, as it seeks out the crest of the ridge at Mullinax Gap...

Squirrel Gap Trail @ Mullinax Gap -- 2,980'

The trail as it reaches the unremarkable Mullinax Gap. The next portion of the route will now follow along the north side of the ridge...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,000'

Looking into the drainage below as the trail departs westbound from Mullinax Gap...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,010'

The trail continues to climb, but more gradually at this point...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,020'

A view up the adjacent hillside...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,030'

...and now a look down said hillside...

Squirrel Gap/Laurel Creek Trail Junction -- 3,040'

A bit over a half-mile past the Mullinax Trail and 1.3-miles after leaving the Bradley Creek Trail, the Laurel Creek Trail junction is reached...stay on the high ground to remain on the Squirrel Gap Trail...

Squirrel Gap/Laurel Creek Trail Junction -- 3,040'

The Squirrel Gap Trail as it continues westbound from the Laurel Creek Trail junction...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,060'

Still climbing...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,080'

Meandering along the side of the ridge...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,100'

Shadier portions of the trail allow the rhododendron to fill in a bit more...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,130'

Turning towards the crest of the ridge again...

Squirrel Gap/Poundingmill Trail Junction -- 3,150'

A quarter-mile past the Laurel Creek Trail the path reaches its next junction...this time with the Poundingmill Trail which splits south, down towards the South Fork Mills River...

Squirrel Gap/Poundingmill Trail Junction -- 3,150'

A view of the Squirrel Gap Trail as it curves past its junction with the Poundingmill Trail...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,160'

There's now another mile of gradual climbing ahead, as the trail pushes on towards Laurel Gap...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,200'

In the winter there are lots of broken views through the leafless trees of the surrounding peaks. Spring blossoms quickly cover them up, however...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,240'

Cutting down past an exposed outcrop...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,260'

Despite their location high atop the ridge, there are still more than a few impressively tall trees here...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,280'

Rich Mountain, which the trail passes to the south of beyond Laurel Gap, rises through the trees ahead...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,300'

Despite the lack of views, the forest here is frequently quite beautiful in its own way...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,320'

Making a brief descent...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,340'

A look back as the trail rounds yet another fold in the side of the ridge...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,360'

A view! Limited as it is, enjoy it..it's the only clear one you get the entire length of the trail...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,380'

Climbing through the laurel...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,400'

Passing a more restricted view. Not completely open like the last, but still nice...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,420'

As the trail rounds an arm of the ridge to the north of Laurel Mountain it passes through this gorgeous grove of laurel, lined with bright mosses...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,440'

A look up towards the top of the ridge as the trail passes to the north of Laurel Mountain...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,460'

Beginning the final push up to Laurel Gap from the east...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,490'

Flattening out on the approach to Laurel Gap...

Squirrel Gap Trail @ Laurel Gap -- 3,500'

The climbing ends (for now) with the trails arrival at Laurel Gap, just under two miles from where it left the Mullinax Trail...

Squirrel Gap Trail @ Laurel Gap -- 3,500'

The route would now be switching over from the north side to the south side of the ridge...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,480'

Now on a fairly continuous descent, the trail has a bit over a mile to go before reaching Cantrell Creek...

Squirrel Gap Trail -- 3,460'

These southern slopes seem a bit steeper than the northern ones traversed earlier...