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| Husky Gap (via Newfound Gap Road) | ||
| Trail Features: | Quiet Forest Hike | |
| Trail Location: | Newfound Gap Road | |
| Roundtrip Miles: | 4.2 miles | |
| Total Elevation Gain: | 1240 feet | |
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 590 feet | |
| Highest Elevation: | 3180 feet | |
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 6.68 (moderate) | |
| Parking Lot Latitude: | ||
| Parking Lot Longitude: | ||
Directions to Trailhead:
From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, drive 1.5 miles south along Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) to the Husky Gap Trailhead. The parking lot for the Husky Gap Trail will be on your right.
Trail Description:
The Husky Gap Trail is one of the trails the Great Smoky Mountains Association uses during the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Tour in April. Although this is a good trail for viewing wildflowers, it can also be a little crowded in the spring due to the close proximity to Gatlinburg.
As you start off from the trailhead, you’ll notice traffic noise from the road. Don’t worry though, after several minutes of walking through this second growth forest, the noise quickly disappears.
As the traffic noise fades, look across the land below the trail and you’ll notice the remains of a stone fence from some of the former homesteads in this area. You’ll also notice some rather large tulip trees in this area as well.
At 2.1 miles you’ll reach Husky Gap where the Husky Gap Trail intersects with the Sugarland Mountain Trail. You won’t have much of a view here, but you will have a few peeks into the mountains towards the west if you continue just a short distance beyond the trail junction.
On your return to the trailhead, if you look due east, you should notice Mt. LeConte through the trees.
If you are in a group with multiple cars, this hike could be extended by heading north on the Sugarland Mountain Trail towards Fighting Creek Gap (Laurel Falls area), or you could continue heading west on the Husky Gap Trail towards the Little River Trail and then head north towards the Elkmont trailhead from there.