Tapoco Lodge to Big Fat Gap - Benton MacKaye Trail

This was a strenuous out and back hike from the Tapoco Lodge. The trail only had blazes for the first mile from the Lodge. There were lots of cross trails in this area, but at each intersection there were good directional signs posted.

The trail was in a beautiful forest, but there was an absence of flowers on this hike.

At Big Fat Gap there was trailhead parking and a nice shaded fence to sit on for lunch.

The trail had a grave marker on it for twin girls that passed away at the age of 6 days in 1914.

During this hike I had my first encounter with a timber rattler. It gave me quite a start. I heard the rattle first, looked up and saw it start to coil up. It was about 15 feet away, right  in the middle of the trail. We gave it a wide berth, as we walked way off of the trail.

At the end of the hike we enjoyed a nice dinner, creek side, at the Tapoco Lodge. About a mile away from the the lodge was the beginning of the Tail of the Dragon. Popular with motorcycle riders. We paid a visit there too.

The hike will begin at the Tapoco Lodge and begin an ascent of about 1000 feet up to Big Fat Gap. This part of the hike will be all up hill. Once we reach Big Fat Gap we shall take a lunch break before beginning our return trip which will be all down hill.

The Tapoco Lodge was built in 1930 and has quite a history. There is a lot of movie history associated with the lodge. Two nice restaurants are located here.