Tennessee · Hiking · Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness

Tapoco

1.7 mi
round trip
807 ft
climb
1,792 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Tapoco open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name Tapoco, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in North Carolina. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Tapoco is a 1.7-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee's Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, within the Cheoah Ranger District of the National Forests in North Carolina. The trail rises from about 1,418 feet to 1,792 feet, with a total elevation gain of 807 feet, and the steepest stretch comes within the first 0.08 miles at about 18%. The route is rated moderate, and the trail surface is natural. Bikes are allowed. The Forest Service manages the land, and the hike is open year-round, with an estimated time of about an hour. For timing, fall is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tapoco, NC, show October highs around 69°F and lows near 46°F, and the station sits roughly 680 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Yellow Hammer Gap and Ike Branch Trail both start about 0.1 mile away, and Benton Mackaye -Cheoah Rd is about half a mile off. For an overnight stay, Bear Creek Hunt Camp is about 1.9 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Aug–Nov

    Best time to visit Tapoco

    Best months: March–June and August–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      48° / 28°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      52° / 31°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 37°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      70° / 44°

      11 wet

    5. May

      77° / 52°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 59°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 62°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 61°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 56°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      69° / 46°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      59° / 36°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      50° / 31°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tapoco, NC, 1.4 mi away at 1,110 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Deep CreekPhoto: MichaelGras, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deep Creek

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11.98-mile out-and-back trail in North Carolina with 3,200 ft elevation gain.

DEEP CREEK CONNECTORPhoto: MichaelGras, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

DEEP CREEK CONNECTOR

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Twentymile TrailPhoto: MichaelGras, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Twentymile Trail

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SOUTH FORK OF CITICO TRAILPhoto: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Haoe LeadPhoto: MichaelGras, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Haoe Lead

~8 min drive

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Deep CreekPhoto: MichaelGras, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deep Creek

~7 min drive

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Ike Branch Trail

Next door

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Wolf Ridge Trail

~10 min drive

12.48-mile out-and-back hike in North Carolina with 3,266 ft elevation gain.

Naked GroundPhoto: Ken Thomas, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Naked Ground

~11 min drive

An 8.72-mile out-and-back trail in North Carolina with 2927 ft of elevation gain and hard difficulty.

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Yellow Hammer Gap

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3.43-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 1,110 ft elevation gain.