Ridgewalk Best Hike

• Difficulty: Easy
• Total Length: 1.4 mi
• Trail Tread Condition: Some Obstacles
• Climb: Few Hills
• Lowest Elevation: 3516 ft
• Highest Elevation: 3580 ft
• Total Elevation Gain: 125 ft
• Trails/Roads Used: Bennett Gap
• Hike Configuration: Out-and-back
• Starting point: Avery Creek Road (FR 477) at Bennett Gap, between the Pink Beds and the Pisgah Horse Stables
• How to Get There: From Asheville, take I-240 west to I-26 east. Take Asheville Airport exit (exit 9) and go south (right) on NC 280 for 16 miles. At the intersection with US 64/276, turn right onto US 276 and enter the National Forest. Go 2.3 miles and turn right on gravel FR 477. Follow 477 for about 5.0 miles (it's twisty and narrow in places) to the top of the gap. The Bennett Gap trail starts on the left at an old gate; there is parking for 4-5 cars on the right.

Lush spring green along the Ridgewalk Best Hike

Begin the hike behind the metal gate. A sign for the Bennett Gap trail stands beside the old roadbed, which is now a trail. The rocky old road beings by making a short climb through some young woods, with lots of vines. Sections of the woods are open and the ground is covered with grass and ferns. The trail is not difficult, and it soon levels off before entering an open meadow on top of the ridge after about 1/4 mile. This meadow is kept open by the Forest Service by mowing, in order to provide habitat for creatures that like open, grassy areas or those that like to live near the edge of such openings. If you're quiet, you might see something here - perhaps a deer, rabbit, or groundhog.

Follow the trail through the meadow, and exit into the woods on the other side. The woods here are similar to the ones on the other side, and lots of ferns grow in between the trees. The trail remains nearly level at this point. Very gradually, the ridge starts to steepen on either side of the trail. As this happens, watch for a change in the trees.

As you near 1/2 mile from the parking area, the old road bed you've been following ends. Start to notice how narrow the ridge becomes. The soil is rockier, and the trees start to get shorter and gnarlier, owing to the more severe weather and poor soil. More mountain laurel begins to fill in the understory. The trail goes downhill a bit and some places are rocky, although they're not too bad at first. You will find a small side path heading right shortly which leads to a good view to the southwest. On a clear day, especially during fall or spring, it's a spectacular vista, with Looking Glass Rock and the high Balsam Mountains to the far right, and further to the left, craggy John Rock and Cedar Rock Mountain with folds of ridges leading up to it. This is a great place to enjoy a snack, or if you wish, to end the hike - it's worthwhile it even if you do not go any further. Stay back from the edge - although it is not a cliff, per se, it's a steep drop over the side of the ridge.

If you wish to continue, go back to the trail and continue downhill. This section gets a bit rockier with some steps in one spot. It goes around a short switchback. About 100 feet past that, and 0.7 miles from the trailhead, the trail goes up over a tiny knoll (only a 15 foot climb), and on the left is a protruding rock below a group of pine trees. From atop this rock, excellent views to the northeast, and of the neighboring ridge - Black Mountain - can be found. You also have some more sporadic views toward Looking Glass Rock from here, but mainly in the winter.

This marks the end for this hike, although the trail continues and starts to drop steeply, eventually to come out on Avery Creek Road near the horse stables. Return to your vehicle on the same path.