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Weekend Gem-Big Fat Loop

Posted by eriksoltan on Nov 19, 2025 in Weekend Gem | No Comments

Snowy Bob Bald from my first visit

I went into the Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness to see how the fall foliage looked in the higher elevations. Turns out that it was just getting started to get good, but had a good trip nonetheless. I never started at Big Fat Gap before I’ve only hiked through it. Turns out to be a great place to start a trip from because it’s vantage point on the mountain. You can go up to the Hangover or down to Slickrock Creek. This opens you up to a grip of tantalizing loop opportunities in Joyce Kilmer and Citico Wilderness areas and beyond if you have the time. On this trip I went down TR #401 to Slickrock to kick it off. The way is an easy grade as it cruises to the creek bottom where the scenery gets much more interesting. The forest gets more mossy and the trees get bigger and diverse in this deep cleft of these ancient Appalachian Mountains. When you hit the Slickrock Creek TR #42, make a right to a creek crossing. Soon you hit #139 where you start heading up to the ridge connecting you to Big Fodderstack and whatnot. Make sure to grab some water before the creek disappears to your left about a 1/2 mile up. This trail makes quick work of the climb and you flatten out by the intersection at a nice camp. Make a left heading towards Big Stack Gap and beyond on this scenic ridge. Climb a bit out of you gap and drop down to Big Stack and another nice camp, but this one has water. Grab some water if you want camp high or want to camp at a more secluded gap that doesn’t have a trail down to where the spring begins. This is also the start of where the way gets more brushy and rougher. It’s good to remember that when in this neck of the woods that some of the more obscure trails or sections between intersections can be more challenging terrain or navigation wise. So take your time if you can, a three day trip rather than an overnight etc. Anyway, start your climb to Big Fodderstack Mountain, The way takes you past a great but dry camp on the shoulder of the Peak, this is perhaps one of my favorites of this wilderness area. Once past the rocky summit drop to Harrison Gap happy that you got the major climb of the day finished. Cruise over Rockstack next and down to Glen Gap in this mysteriously wild wilderness area that feels as far from civilization as you can get to here. Another short climb delivers you a decent to Cherry Log Gap and your camp. There is a small camp by the intersection with Brushy Mtn TR or better ones a little further on. Enjoy the solitude in this remote location as the evening light gets pretty and you start to fade to sleep.

Viewpoint by Big Fodderstack

By Rockstack Mtn

Witch Hobble Leaves are some of my favorite in Fall

Once you get up and rolling, climb up the short but steep 54A that’s connects you to Bob Bald and the Hangover Area. Get some much needed water at the spring just past the left turn on TR 54. If you have time soak in Bob’s Bald. This has become one of my all time favorite spots to camp or hang out in these Southern Appalachian Mountains. Keep on cruising through the warped and storm battered slopes of Naked Ground and onto Saddle Tree Gap where a spring with a pipe can be found a short distance from another amazing camp. Perhaps this is another great place to bunker down on an extended trip. It has water, amazing views from camp and better ones from the Hangover, honestly pretty hard to beat. These trails in NC hold a special place in my heart. A place where real wilderness exist. A place that is rugged enough to keep out the littering masses of weekend warriors, a sanctuary for the die hard wilderness lovers out there. Past Saddle Tree is where you start dropping steadily down to Big Fat Gap hugging the spine of the ridge at times. Keep an eye out to stay right following the ridge aiming for the large Gap. Once back to Big Fat, change into some clean clothes and grab a snack for the ride back home.