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North Carolina

Explorer Loop

3.1 mi

Distance

285 ft

Elev. Gain

1h 11m

Est. Time

Easy

Difficulty

About This Trail

We don't publish a description for Explorer Loop unless we can point you at the agency it came from. We don't have one yet. The planning figures above — distance, elevation gain, estimated time, route type — come from the source listed on this trail.

The managing agency is the authority for conditions, closures and route notes. See official sources below. Spot something we should add?

Trail Conditions

Trail Conditions

Unknown

We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.

No recent condition reports. Be the first to share what you see on the trail.

Elevation Profile

Min:672 ft
Max:788 ft
Gain:98 ft
Loss:131 ft
Elevation profileA line rising and falling between 672 ft and 788 ft across 3.1 mi along the route, drawn from start to end.672 ft711 ft749 ft788 ft0.0 mi0.8 mi1.5 mi2.3 mi3.1 mi

Elevation at the labelled points along this route
PointDistance from startElevation
Start0.0 mi735 ft
High point0.4 mi788 ft
End3.1 mi702 ft

Trail Details

Bike access: USDA Forest Service, checked 2026-10-14. Rules change, so confirm with the land manager before you go.

Surface
Dirt

Official sources & verification

Verify before you go

Where it is

Nearest town:
Bent Creek, NC · about 3 mi away
County:
Buncombe County, NC

Nearest town and county from U.S. Census Bureau place records and county boundaries.

We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this trail using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Aug 17, 2026. Our copy is more than a month old — please reconfirm with the agency before relying on it.Spot an error in our data?

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Imported route

Nearby Trails

More trails near Explorer Loop
Lower Sidehill Trail

Lower Sidehill Trail

4.7 mi
TrailDifficulty: Moderate
Lower Side Hill to Explorer Loop

Lower Side Hill to Explorer Loop

5.1 mi
TrailDifficulty: Moderate
Greens Lick Trail

Greens Lick Trail

7.3 mi
TrailDifficulty: Difficult
Shut In, Bent Creek Gap Road, South Ridge Road, Sleepy Gap Trail

Shut In, Bent Creek Gap Road, South Ridge Road, Sleepy Gap Trail

8.5 mi
TrailDifficulty: Difficult
Cold Knob Ridge

Cold Knob Ridge

2.1 mi
TrailDifficulty: Moderate
Wash Creek Road

Wash Creek Road

11.4 mi
TrailDifficulty: Difficult

Stay nearby

Campgrounds near this trail

More campgrounds

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Spot an error in our data on Explorer Loop?