Day 12 [North Carolina: Mile 136.9 - Mile 150.7] NOC -> Stecoah Gap
Date: October 10, 2026 (Sunday)
Total Distance: 13.8 miles on AT
It has been more than a year, and we finally resume our hike after my son finished his college application as a senior. Hurricane Isaias just swept over southeast as a Category 2 storm, and left behind a trail of destruction from Florida's Gulf Coast to the Carolinas over Friday night and Saturday. We checked the weather on Saturday and it said rain shower only in Sunday afternoon. So we picked up courage and hit the road.
Mile 136.9 NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center)/US74
We contacted Cabins in the Woods before we arrived at NOC and the owner responded by text message after we left a voicemail. Craig is the owner and confirmed the availability of a cabin and was willing to pick us up at the Stecoah Gap.
We walked into the General store of NOC and asked where to park overnight. The store manager gave us a hang tag with the pick up date + 1 extra day just in case. The parking lot is C, which is the one cross the river right next to the bridge with car access. The tag is free of charge but we bought some snacks in the store as a thank you.
Mile 74.6 As Knob
A viewless small summit.
Mile 73.9 Plumorchard Gap Shelte
The shelter is 0.2 mile west to the Plumorchard Gap. We do not see the shelter, but some nice tent sites near the trail.
Mile 71.2 Cowart Gap
I think we ran into a bear on the climb. When I stumbled on the trail and made a big noise, a big animal about 30 yards away on the uphill was disturbed and ran away into the bushes. I couldn’t tell what it really was by only a glimpse of a big brown butt. By size it looked like a bear. We didn’t linger to find out but hurried away.
Mile 70.5 Litle Blad Knob Campsite
Very nice and flat tent sites with thick pine needles on the ground.
Mile 69.8 Tentsite
Mile 69.4 Dicks Creek Gap/US-7
We were picked up by our driver Grace. She drove us back to where we parked at the foothill of Blue Ridge Gap. We concluded our 3-day hike and happily returned home to recover.
