Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,000'

Though you may think going downhill is easier, it can be every bit as tiresome as climbing if you add up enough of it on a long hike...so it is on the Turkeypen Gap Trail, which by now has lost a cumulative 2,300-feet in the last 4-miles...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,900'

The downhill grind through the rhodo...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,800'

Down, down, down...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ Simpson Gap -- 2,740'

Reaching Simpson Gap, the trail now has just under a mile to go...and one final (minor) climb...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,760'

The final climb from Simpson Gap will seem quite easy, compared to what has come before on this trail...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,830'

You can see how the higher volume of traffic along this eastern portion of the trail has resulted in much greater erosion...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,880'

Flattening out...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,900'

At this spot can finally now say it's all downhill from here...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,850'

The final half-mile is simply an easy downhill walk...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,800'

Another beautiful green tunnel...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,720'

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 2,690'

One last rhododendron tunnel as well...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead -- 2,660'

The Turkeypen Gap Trail as it emerges from the rhododendron at the Turkey Pen Trailhead parking lot...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead -- 2,650'

A view of the Turkeypen Gap Trail as it departs eastbound from the Turkey Pen Trailhead...

Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead -- 2,650'

The parking lot at the Turkey Pen Trailhead is huge...at the crest of the lot, seen here facing north, the Turkeypen Gap Trail departs to the left, the Vineyard Gap Trail to the right, and the South Mills River Trail straight ahead to the left of the large kiosk.