Weekend Gem: Standing Indian Loop

 View southwest from Mooney Gap

The Standing Indian Loop is one of the best loops in NC, plain and simple. From the lookout tower on Albert Mtn. to the great camping at Beech Gap. Every step on this 25 mile trek is amazing and relatively simple due to the easy, rolling terrain of the A.T. in this section. Start your trip at the info booth just before the turn off for the campground. Grab that last guzzle of coffee before heading off on the Long Branch TR. on the other side of the road. This trail lightly climbs a bit before leveling off above the creek and sticking with that grade all the way until about a mile before the A.T. and then lightly climbing to Glassmine Gap. Make a right here and do the loop clockwise, it makes the climb up to Mt. Albert much easier. Coast on this fabulously flat terrain for a nice stretch before climbing up and down Sassafras Ridge. Mosey on past Pinnacle Mtn. just off the ridge to your left where you will find a side trail on your right to Big Spring Shelter. Drop down a bit before the easy climb to Albert Mtn. Climb this well constructed tower to check out the unobstructed view in all directions. To the west lyes the awesome Fires Creek Rim, to the east is the Pisgah and to the north, way out there, is the Smoky Mountains hanging in a blue mist. When you have had your fill of the view, take a few minutes to enjoy some lunch before heading down the aggressive drop to Bear Pen Gap and countour a couple of roads before dropping even further to Mooney Gap. The gaps and some other features are marked on this loop with charming signs, nice touch. Traverse across this lovely terrain before dropping to Betty Creek Gap and your first camp. Enjoy a nice sip of whisky as the sun sets on another fine day of wilderness travel.

The climb to the A.T. from Long Branch

Albert’s view

Steep decent from Mt. Albert                                                                                                                                                                       The next day starts with a short climb out of Betty Gap and a solid ridge walk for a couple of miles. Next, you drop to Carter Gap which has a extraordinary amount of camp spots and a shelter to boot. You can almost imagine when the bubble of thru-hikers comes through that this spot gets crazy busy, so check that out when those suckers are coming through. Another short climb and descend deliver you to Coleman Gap. The next couple of miles have you going in and out of some small side canyons, the second, Kirby Creek has nice access to some water if you are needing. After the trail makes a sharp turn to the north, you descend to the fine camps at Beech Gap. The best spots lye past where the creek pops out of the hillside along it’s edge. Follow the creek until it start dropping off the slope and you will find an awesome flat ledge with views to the east and an open canopy for stargazing. This is the last spot with water before the long, but easy climb to Standing Indian Mountain which has some nice camps and a potential water source. 

Nice view points along your way

Nice fall colors before Beech Gap

After a bit of showers and hectic winds, wake up to a lovely morning at Beech Gap. Enjoy that cup of joe before setting off for your climb of Standing Indian. As you slllloooowwwly climb on up, you will notice that your views down into the center of this horseshoe shaped loop improve and you can now see Albert and other prominent peaks around. You can also see all the folds in the ridge lines as they dump an impressive amount of creek water to form the mighty Nantahala River below you, an impressive view indeed. When you get to the intersection with the Lower Ridge TR, you can take a side trail to the left to some camps scattered along the hill to the top of Standing Indian. Take that right and drop down on the Lower Ridge and discover a nicely grated trail that slowly switch backs down to the canyon below. You will notice the lookout tower on Albert and Glassmine Gap where you started this fine wilderness trek a couple of days ago. When you get down to the campground follow the blazes back over the bridge with the Nantahala and ultimately, back to your car. Enjoy that reward beer and think about the certainty of you coming back and hiking this great loop again!

Going up to Standing Indian

Albert!

Lovely!