Little East Fork Trail Map

Route map of the Little East Fork Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Little East Fork Trail Map

Route map of the Little East Fork Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Little East Fork/Ivestor Gap Trail Junction -- 5,700'

This wide opening marks the junction of the Little East Fork and Ivestor Gap Trails. It's just about at the apex of the Ivestor Gap's curve around the end of the ridge a half-mile south of Shining Rock Gap. There's no sign to mark the Little East Fork Trail but, if you're watching for it, you shouldn't have trouble spotting it...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,680'

It is immediately apparent, upon leaving the Ivestor Gap Trail, that the Little East Fork Trail is much less frequently used...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,650'

An opening in the canopy provides a glimpse of the Fork Mountain Ridge, immediately to the west. This brief view is about the only one you'll get along the entire length of the Little East Fork Trail...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,620'

The grass-lined, gently downward-sloping trail, here at the start, is fantastically enjoyable...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,600'

As you can see more clearly in this shot, the Little East Fork Trail is following the route of an old forest roadbed...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,560'

Hopping across the the upper end of the unnamed tributary which drains from Flower Knob down to the Little East Fork...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,500'

Woodland scenery doesn't get much better than this...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,420'

Freshly fallen leaves coated a particularly mossy bit of woodland here, creating a uniquely beautiful kaleidoscope of color...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,360'

Just under a mile after leaving the Ivestor Gap Trail the Little East Fork enters its first tight switchback, beginning its main descent off the ridge. Note the seemingly clear road ahead at this spot...make sure you hang a right to stay on the correct route...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,340'

The trail is now quite serious about getting off the ridge...in the next 1.5-miles of winding trail I'd be loosing 1,000-feet of elevation...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,320'

Switching back again through a stand of young pines...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,260'

It's nice that the trail chooses to follow this old roadway down the mountain...it means there won't be any surprise super-steep pitches to contend with while it does...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,200'

Passing down through the last of this upper section of switchbacks...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,150'

Down, down, down...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,100'

Rounding another broad shoulder on the west side of the ridge...

Little East Fork Trail -- 5,050'

Cutting a narrow swath through the forest...

Little East Fork Trail -- 4,950'

Crossing another area of runoff...nothing that'll get the feet wet though...

Little East Fork Trail -- 4,800'

This tight right-hand switchback is the start of the final steep drop the trail will now make to reach the Little East Fork...

Little East Fork Trail -- 4,750'

Tunneling beneath the trees...

Little East Fork Trail -- 4,700'

The trail is now descending along the hillside which rises to the east of the Little East Fork, which can easily be heard far below at this point...

Little East Fork Trail -- 4,650'

Looking back gives a better feel for the grade along this stretch...

Little East Fork Trail -- 4,600'

The sense of wilderness along this trail is palpable...