Little Hickory Top Trail Map

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

Little Hickory Top Trail Map

Route map of the Little Hickory Top Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Little Hickory Top Trail/F.R. 479F Junction -- 2,350'

Three-quarters of a mile from the closest road (F.R. 479) is the Y-split where the Little Hickory Top Trail breaks to the left off of F.R. 479F...

Little Hickory Top Trail/F.R. 479F Junction -- 2,350'

The Little Hickory Top Trail as it departs from F.R. 479F...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,380'

For much of its length the Little Hickory Top Trail follows the route of Forest Road 479F so, for now, the feel remains that of a road-walk rather than a path...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,420'

Not far up the Little Hickory Top the route makes a tight left turn, seen here. After this the trail gets a bit more serious about the climb...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,430'

The open bend provides some nice views of the hills to the east...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,450'

Alright, time to get serious about the climb...the grade now goes from gradual to moderate in steepness...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,480'

A recently logged area lying just uphill from the trail/road...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,520'

Spring greens at Bent Creek are something to see...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,560'

There isn't much to see as the trail winds its way up the side of the ridge...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,600'

Looking into the treetops...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,640'

Nearing the point where the trail curves around the south end of the ridge...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,660'

Now curving back in a more northerly direction...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,680'

The relentless uphill climb continues...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,700'

This break in the trees allows for a glimpse of the ridge ahead which the trail is heading for...still a ways to climb...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,730'

The surroundings get tight briefly...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,750'

Some of the trees seen along the way are quite impressive...

Little Hickory Top/Sidehill Trail Junction -- 2,760'

About 1.2-miles after leaving F.R. 479F, the trail passes the Sidehill Trail (on the right here, looking back at the junction)...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,780'

Still climbing...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,800'

There are hopes of views at these open logged areas...as you can see though, they aren't very impressive...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,800'

At this point the uphill grind has eased and, as you can see, the trail has officially left the roadbed behind and is now simply a good old-fashioned footpath...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,820'

Another opening gives a nice glimpse of the ridge above...

Little Hickory Top Trail -- 2,820'

A tunnel of green...