Huskey Gap Trail

The common hike starts on Newfound Gap Road, climbs to Huskey Gap, and returns the same way. The mapped trail from the road to the gap is about 2 miles one way, so allow about 4 miles round trip, roughly 1,270 feet of climbing, and around 2 hours 45 minutes. It is a moderate walk under hardwood canopy, with a few glimpses through the trees rather than an open summit view. The named trail continues beyond the gap toward Little River Trail; that longer walk is outside this out-and-back route.

The path climbs gently through second-growth woods at first, and traffic noise fades within minutes. Just over a tenth of a mile in, look downhill for a remnant of an old stone fence and several large tulip trees. Around 1.1 miles from the road, the trail crosses Flint Rock Branch. From there it skirts the branch’s drainage and turns south along the lower flank of Sugarland Mountain, beneath oaks, maples, hickories, and mountain laurel.

Huskey Gap is a quiet saddle where the trail meets Sugarland Mountain Trail. There is little open view at the junction itself; a short continuation west gives a few peeks toward the western mountains, while Mount Le Conte appears through trees on the return. The gap is named for Sam Huskey, whose homestead was nearby around the turn of the 20th century. Residents of the Sugarlands and Little River, now Elkmont, built a log schoolhouse here in the late 19th century. It later burned, and a rough road built to reach the school became the trail.

April and May bring some of the walk’s best detail: trilliums, violets, rue anemone, mayapple, foamflower, and wild ginger are among the flowers reported along the route. Start from the small roadside pullout on the right side of Newfound Gap Road when heading south; the trail begins across the road. A parking tag is required if you leave a vehicle in the park for more than 15 minutes. Pets are not permitted on this trail.