This 5.3 mile one-way hike requires an auto shuttle. It will be mostly an up hill hike with many ups and downs. The hike starts in Hot Springs at the French Broad River and travels along the river for a bit before begining a stiff up hill climb for the first mile, where we intersect with the Lover's Leap Trail. Here there is a large flat ledge jutting out from the cliff face 500 ft. above the river. It is an nice place to rest and view Hot Springs and the French Broad River. A legend tells of a Cherokee maiden who leaped to her death after her lover was killed by a rival.

After the viewing ledge the trail will descend a bit before climbing again to meet the Pump Gap Loop Trail at 2.8 miles. After a series of ups and downs the AT will cross the Pump Gap Loop Trail again at the 3.9 mile mark. The trail will continue its gentle ascent and come to a concrete dam at the 4.3 mile mark where there will be a pond. The trail has one more gentle ascent before dropping slightly to Tanyard Gap.

Plan on spending 3 hours on the trail for this hike.

There are beds available at the Laughing Heart Hostel in Hot Springs.

The meeting place for this hike will be the Spring Creek Tavern. The address for the Spring Creek Tavern is 145 Spring Street, Hot Springs, NC 28743. The telephone number for the tavern is (828) 622-0187.

We will be leaving the tavern for the trailheads at 3:00 PM sharp. Please arrive earlierfor lunch and directions.