Reviewed by: Clark Wilkins , from Penrose, NC

Summary:
Here are very detailed directions because a lot of this trail is not
marked. 0.0 Start at Yellow Gap by gate that marks the beginning of
FS5015. With the gated road at your back, turn left down FS1206.
0.15 Laurel Mountain Trail begins on your right. Stay on FS1206.
0.45 Fire road on right.
1.50 FS1206 starts climbing.
1.90 Slate rock/Pilot Cove trailhead on right.
2.40 Road levels off
3.60 Slate Rock/Pilot Cove trailhead on right.
4.00 small bridge
4.55 small bridge
4.8 Pilot Rock trailhead on right
4.95 Fire road on left.
5.55 Turn left on FS476.
6.2 Fire road on left.
7.0 Go around gate onto South Mills River Trail (white blazes).
7.75 Trail breaks to left.
8.00 Trail to High Falls exits to the left. Go over the concrete
bridge to the right.
8.30 Beginning of rocky, technical ascent.
8.85 Turn right at the top.
8.95 Stay left around switchback. Buckhorn Gap Trail begins
straight ahead (orange blaze, open to bikes).
9.20 Stay right at the switchback
11.75 Cantrell Creek Trail (red blaze, open to bikes) begins to the
left. Head right and downhill.
11.85 Go over the suspension bridge and turn right. Squirrel Gap
Trail begins to the left (open to bikes, blue blaze). The trail is
mostly unmarked from here to mile 17.15. The trail is a bit
confusing here. Follow it through what looks like a camping area
and up the slope. It stays very close to the river.
12.0 Take the right fork. The left one connects back in at mile
13.4 but is harder to navigate.
12.05 Bear left. There is a horse crossing that enters from the
right which is accessible by turning right before the suspension
bridge.
12.45 Water crossing #1 - cross right to left. Watch for slippery
rocks underfoot! After this crossing, be ready for many slippery
rock gardens and long mud bogs for the next 3.5 miles. Allow a
lot of time for this section.
12.90 Water crossing #2 - cross right to left.
13.40 A side tr enters from the right. Stay straight for water
crossing #3. There is a nice rock wall formation visible when you
cross the water here. Another one can be seen by taking the first
left after you get across the water. The main trail goes straight.
13.95 Water crossing #3 - cross right to left.
14.25 Campsite visible to the left.
14.50 Water crossing #4 - cross left to right.
15.73 Water crossing #5 - cross right to left.
15.90 The trail splits here. Stay straight.
16.0 The other leg of the trail cuts back in.
16.50 Water crossing #6 - cross left to right.
16.77 Water crossing #7 - cross right to left.
17.0 Short push climb section.
17.20 Cantrell Creek trail enters from the left (red blaze, open to
bikes). Bear to the right. The trail is mostly blazed from this point
onwards.
17.25 The remains of the Cantrell Creek lodge are on your left.
17.40 Water crossing #8. (THIS IS AN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE).
17.55 Go over the suspension bridge and bear left. There are two
forks. Either one is OK - they rejoin shortly - but the right side
has less obstacles.
18.15 Wagon Gap Road starts on the right. Stay straight.
18.20 Water crossing #9. Stay right after the crossing.
18.30 Go over the suspension bridge.
19.30 Pounding Mill begins to the left. This trail is CLOSED to
bikes.
20.65 Mullinax Trail (open to bikes) exits to the left. Stay straight.
20.85 Look for a right-hand switchback off the main trail as it
goes downhill. If you miss it, you'll see a water crossing shortly.
Take the turn and look for the bridge.
20.90 After the bridge, turn left onto Bradley Creek Trail (red
blazes). This is the end of South Mills River Trail. If you turn right,
the connector trail goes up to Turkey Pen Parking lot.
20.95 The horse crossing for the end of South Mills River Trail is
here to the left. An easier connecting trail to the Turkey Pen
parking lot is to the right. If you have a sag vehicle parked at
Turkey Pen, you want to get out here as the most difficult part of
the ride is ahead.
21.45 Water crossing #10 - cross right to left.
21.9 Riverside Trail exits to the right. Follow Bradley Creek to the
left up the steps. A brutal climb over Pea Gap begins here. You
might want to go on Riverside if you're tired. This is the hardest
climb of the day. Riverside re-enters at mile 23.1.
22.35 Top of brutal climb to Pea Gap.
22.50 Squirrel Gap Trail exits to the left (open to bikes, blue
blaze). The last time I went by (June 2003), there was no sign.
23.1 Riverside Trail exits to the right.
23.30 Water crossing #11.
23.70 Water crossing #12.
23.95 Water crossing #13.
24.05 An unmarked oad enters from the left as you enter the first
field. Stay straight.
24.35 Laurel Creek Trail (open to bikes) exits to the left in the
middle of the second big field.
24.45 Turn right on unmarked doubletrack fire road (FS5015) and
start a long, gradual climb out.
27.70 You finally get a long downhill section. (THIS IS AN
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE)
28.50 End of ride back at Yellow Gap.

Recommended Route:
Yellow Gap - FS476 - South Mills River Trail - Bradley Creek Trail
- FS5015