Appalachian Trail · North Carolina · Northbound · Thu Oct 1, 2026
NOC to Stecoah Gap
13.5 miles. Start at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, climb west for 8 miles to Cheoah Bald, then head north for 5.5 miles, mostly downhill, to Stecoah Gap on NC 143. This is the section you missed when your knee swelled.
13.5 miNOC to Stecoah Gap
AT mile 137Start, NOC, from Springer Mountain
AT mile 150.5Finish, Stecoah Gap
1,711 ftStart, at the river
5,062 ftCheoah Bald, mile 8.0
3,165 ftFinish, Stecoah Gap
8 to 10 hrPlan time. Start by 8 AM
Route map
North is up. Green S is the start, gold F is the finish. Numbered circles are mile markers. The arrows show your direction: left, west, to Cheoah Bald, then up, north, to Stecoah Gap.
Elevation profile
The green band is the main climb. The orange band is the steepest descent, the hardest stretch for your knee. Go slow there and lean on your poles.
Turn by turn
Mile
Place
Elevation
What to do
0
NOC (start) AT mile 137
1,711 ft
Nantahala River footbridge. Parking lot. Fill all water here.
5.9
Swim Bald
4,711 ft
End of the main climb. Rest.
6.8
Sassafras Gap Shelter
about 4,400 ft
Side trail 300 ft. Spring in front of shelter, your only sure water. Sleeps 14, privy.
8.0
Cheoah Bald
5,062 ft
High point, grassy summit. Bartram Trail (yellow blazes) ends here. Stay on white blazes, turn north.
10.4
Locust Cove Gap
3,690 ft
Campsite. Water possible, not reliable.
11.5
Simp Gap
3,700 ft
2 miles to go.
13.5
Stecoah Gap (finish) AT mile 150.5
3,165 ft
NC 143, parking for about 7 cars. Spring 250 yards down the gated gravel road.
Knee plan. Trekking poles, knee brace or sleeve, anti-inflammatories, elastic wrap. Decide at Sassafras Gap Shelter, mile 6.8: if the knee is sore, turn back there. No road crosses the trail between the start and the finish.
Packing checklist
Day hike, so no tent or sleeping gear. Tap an item to check it off. Checked items move to the Packed list at the bottom. Uncheck one to put it back. Your phone remembers your checks.