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...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Upper Overlook -- 3,520'

Pisgah's trio of famous plutons are front and center from the upper viewpoint. Looking Glass Rock (3,969') is closest, with Cedar Rock Mountain (4,056') rising to the left and John Rock (3,320') doing its best to hide beneath it...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Upper Overlook -- 3,520'

A pluton panorama...the incredible view west from the upper overlook...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Upper Overlook -- 3,520'

A tightly zoomed shot of Cedar Rock Mountain (4,056') with John Rock (3,320') tucked into the forest beneath it...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Upper Overlook -- 3,520'

Immediately to the south is the next summit, Coontree Mountain (3,500'), which the trail will pass over as it continues south along the ridge...

Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,500'

From the upper overlook the trail continues its descent along the narrow ridge under dense laurel cover...

Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,460'

About halfway between the overlooks the trail drops down this ten foot series of ledges. This must be an interesting spot to be on a mountain bike...

Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,420'

What you see here is pretty much the sum-total width of the ridge along this stretch. If it weren't for the dense laurel to each side this would be a dizzying bit of trail...

Bennett Gap Trail -- 3,420'

A break in the laurel on the right does a nice job of framing nearby Looking Glass Rock...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Overlook Rock -- 3,440'

The Bennett Gap Trail as it arrives at the small ledge unofficially named Overlook Rock...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Overlook Rock -- 3,450'

From the top of the ledge along the trail at Overlook Rock is this partial panorama looking east across the valley of Avery Creek...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Overlook Rock -- 3,450'

A zoomed look east of Clawhammer Mountain (left; 4,120') and Black Mountain (right; 4,286')...

Bennett Gap Trail @ Overlook Rock -- 3,450'

The view from the lower overlook faces more northerly, with a great look up towards the massive Pisgah Ridge...