more stats
7.4 miles
Distance
978 ft
Climb
-1,327 ft
Descent
01:34:48
Avg time
-349 ft
Altitude change
2,574 ft
Altitude min
3,515 ft
Altitude max
2,923 ft
Altitude start
2,575 ft
Altitude end
-0.9%
Grade
-33.2%
Grade max
39.4%
Grade min
3 miles
Distance climb
4 miles
Distance down
1,768 ft
Distance flat
01:34:48
Avg time

Squirrel Gap Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    South Mills River/Turkey Pen
    Brevard, North Carolina
  • Ref Number
    #147
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (2 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    35 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #116168 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #215314 in Trail Running
    • #206455 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #764 in Mountain Biking · North Carolina [+]
    • #2,241 in Trail Running
    • #2,270 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Sometimes hard to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Land Owner
    USFS

This is a great Brevard, NC all-day ride and is featured in Freehub Magazine's Pisgah Photo Book: Issue 6.3.

Tags
Faint trailJumpsRock gardens

Trail Supporters

  • USFS
    USFS
    Land Manager
  • Pisgah Mountain Builders
    since 2019
    Maintainer
  • David Knupp
    since 2019
    Maintainer

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 5 rides
  • 25 miles avg distance
All
  • 37 rides
  • Last: Oct 17, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Squirrel Gap Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Nov 7, 2026 @ 6:51pm (America/New_York)
Nov 7, 2026
 No down trees from Horse Cove Gap to Laurel Creek, but plenty of leaves and a few wet areas. A minor amount of thorny overgrowth too.
Jul 3, 2026 @ 7:34am (America/Kentucky/Monticello)
Jul 3, 2026
 Large tree branch down across trail just west of the Laurel Creek intersection. Hand saw should be enough to clear it. Dry and a little loose in...
Jun 8, 2026 @ 7:19pm (America/New_York)
Jun 8, 2026
 Once again, trees down Cantrell in multiple locations, but evenly spaced so riding up or down isn't too interrupted. The largest is about 18"...
Jun 8, 2026 @ 7:07pm (America/New_York)
Jun 8, 2026
 9" tree down on trail .25mi north of the intersection with Mulinax. 2 large trees down on the section between Cantrell and Horse Cove. The...
Apr 30, 2026 @ 11:48pm (America/New_York)
Apr 30, 2026
 Ripping. Clear from Cantrell down to Bradley. Not sure about above that.
more »
Status:
on Nov 7, 2026
Variable
Avg: 3.91 (16 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (236)
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      Directions to squirrel-gap trailhead (35.342880, -82.729660)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

      Photos

      31 more »
      mtb
      323 |
      Apr 29, 2020 @ 11:03am
      Apr 29, 2020
      mtb
      280 |
      Jun 30, 2017 @ 6:25am
      Jun 30, 2017
      mtb
      245 |
      Jun 30, 2017 @ 6:23am
      Jun 30, 2017
      mtb
      215 |
      Jun 30, 2017 @ 6:23am
      Jun 30, 2017
      Rock gardens 1

      Videos

      2 more »
      2017.10.06 Squirrel Gap downhill
      mtb
      0:53 | 713 | Mar 19, 2021 , Brevard
      Squirrel Gap
      mtb
      6:36 | 1104 | Jan 9, 2012 , Brevard

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      7 Reviews & Comments

      tdeems tdeems
      Flat, narrow, and traversing with tons of roots constantly trying to knock you off the trail and down the hill. If you like old school "tech" with constant pedaling, even on the big downhill, go for it. I won't be back.
      Benp00Cbn
      If you like classic old school Pisgah stuff, you’ll love this trail. No flow, plenty of roots and rocks and goat -track side hill. A nice endurance challenge
      provin1327 provin1327
      I agree with sunringlerider. This trail is just meh and is not worth the time when you consider all the other better options in Pisgah.

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      Nearby Trails

      South Mills River/Turkey Pen

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Squirrel Gap located?
      Squirrel Gap is located in South Mills River/Turkey Pen, Brevard, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the South Mills River/Turkey Pen trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.34288, -82.72966.
      ▼ How hard is Squirrel Gap?
      Squirrel Gap is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 0.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Squirrel Gap?
      Squirrel Gap has 978 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,327 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 2,574 ft to 3,515 ft.
      ▼ Is Squirrel Gap a point to point trail?
      Squirrel Gap is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Squirrel Gap?
      Squirrel Gap is 7.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Squirrel Gap?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Squirrel Gap. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Squirrel Gap?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Squirrel Gap are:
      • June (3 activities)
      • April (2 activities)
      • August (2 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Squirrel Gap? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Squirrel Gap are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Squirrel Gap?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 1 hour 35 minutes to ride Squirrel Gap. The trail is 7.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Squirrel Gap?
      Squirrel Gap is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 246 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 236 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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