Laurel Mountain Trail (#121)
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Route map of the Laurel Mountain Trail as tracked (on multiple trips) by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Laurel Mountain Trail as tracked (on multiple trips) by the Gaia GPS app...
Laurel Mountain/Mountains-to-Sea Trail Junction -- 4,980'
Around 1/3-mile south of Buck Spring Gap, via the MST, is the upper terminus of the Laurel Mountain Trail...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,980'
A weathered wooden sign welcomes hikers to the Laurel Mountain Trail at its upper terminus...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,960'
The narrow Laurel Mountain Trail, as it leaves the MST, along the steep eastern slopes of Little Bald Mountain...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,920'
Needless to say this is a strikingly different path than the wide, well trodden MST used to access it...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,870'
Descending steadily the going gets a little rockier as the trail continues traversing the steep slopes...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,820'
Eventually, the trail is forced into a quick series of switchbacks to make its descent...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,780'
Switching back through the rhodo and galax...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,760'
Just above Turkey Spring Gap the trail now crosses a series of old, moss-covered rock-slides...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,750'
Not a lot of elevation change to deal with, but the terrain still makes it a bit slower-going...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,740'
The green tunnel...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,720'
The trail punches through a grove of large rhododendron before arriving at Turkey Spring Gap from the north...
Laurel Mountain/Laurel Mountain Connector Trail Junction (Turkey Spring Gap) -- 4,700'
Around a mile after leaving the MST, the Laurel Mountain Trail arrives at Turkey Spring Gap where it passes the unsigned lower end of the short Laurel Mountain Connector Trail (on the right here) up to the nearby Pilot Rock Trail...
Laurel Mountain/Laurel Mountain Connector Trail Junction (Turkey Spring Gap) -- 4,700'
Looking back on the aforementioned junction with the Laurel Mountain Connector Trail, seen here on the left after the trail has passed it heading south...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,690'
Now, as it crosses a broad section of the ridge crest, the understory brush nearly overgrows the path in a few spots...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,650'
Continuing the downhill trajectory on a steady but not rugged grade...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,600'
A few ferns mix in to change things up a bit...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,550'
A rare stretch of flat trail on the ridge above Good Enough Gap...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,580'
Passing a large backcountry site, located just above the steep drop to Good Enough Gap...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,560'
You already know if you follow me...I'm a sucker for ferns...and the Laurel Mountain Trail doesn't disappoint...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,500'
The final 1/4-mile drop to Good Enough Gap is the steepest stretch of the trail yet...it will be far from the last, however...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,450'
Dropping quickly now to the gap...
Laurel Mountain Trail -- 4,400'
Down, down, down...
