"Bet You've Never Heard of Overlook Rock"

Running the southern 2/3 of the eastern rim of the Avery Creek Valley, this trail connects its namesake gap to the north with Forest Service Road 477, at the bottom of the valley, to the south. The northern half traverses a surprisingly narrow and rugged ridge. The 'Overlook Rock' mentioned above is along this stretch and is a rather underrated viewpoint. The southern half of the trail spends a portion of its time coinciding with the Coontree Loop, all the while gaining and losing a considerable amount of elevation along the way. The trail is well-marked and quite popular, especially with mountain bikers.

GPS Coordinates: 35.34599, -82.76422 (Bennett Gap Trailhead)

GPS Coordinates: 35.304962, -82.739574 (Forest Service Road 477 Trailhead)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Southbound

Highlights: Overlook Rock

Length (one-way): 2.9 miles

Petzoldt+ Rating: 4.21 (N to S); 8.49 (S to N)

Difficulty: MODERATE (N to S); HARD (S to N)

Total Elevation Gain: 350' (N to S); 1,500' (S to N)

Elevation Gain/Mile: 121'/mile (N to S); 517'/mile (S to N)

Min. Elevation: 2,300'

Max. Elevation: 3,580'

Blaze Color: RED

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Avery Creek/Buckwheat Knob Loop

Avery Creek Valley Circuit

Coontree Loop & Overlook Rock

Perry Cove Loop & Overlook Rock

Connecting Trails:

Buckwheat Knob Trail (#122)

Coontree Loop Trail (#144)

Perry Cove Trail (#151)

Bennett Gap Trail (#138)

Bennett Gap North Trailhead (F.R. 477) -- 3,500'
Bennett Gap marks the spot where Forest Road 477 breaks the crest of the ridge lining the east side of the Avery Creek Valley. The Bennett Gap Trail departs south from the gap at a point 2.4-miles south of F.R. 477's northern junction with US-276 or 4.8-miles north of its southern junction with US-276...
Bennett Gap North Trailhead (F.R. 477) -- 3,500'
The Bennett Gap Trail as it leaves its namesake gap (and F.R. 477) heading south...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,560'
Entering a cathedral-like forest just south of Bennett Gap...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,520'
The Bennett Gap Trail begins southbound with a moderate, and brief, climb to the top of the ridge...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,580'
The oddest feature of this trail might be this, a random open ridge top field, located about halfway between Bennett Gap and Overlook Rock. The USFS is obviously maintaining it as a clearing...perhaps for wildlife, perhaps for rescues...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,580'
Despite its large size, tall trees line the field in all directions. This means that there are little to no views to be had aside from broken ones like this in the winter...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,570'
Looking back across the open field as the trail re-enters the forest on its south end...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,560'
Another "canyon of trees"...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,520'
Laurels press in tight as the trail begins its trip across the knife-edge ridge north of Saddle Gap...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,540'
Soon the ridge begins to narrow as the trail nears the knife-edge portion containing Overlook Rock...
Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,520'
The Bennett Gap Trail as it arrives at the upper viewpoint of Overlook Rock...
Bennett Gap Trail @ Upper Overlook -- 3,520'
Looking Glass Rock as seen from the upper viewpoint of Overlook Rock...