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Banner Elk trails

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Wildcat Lake and Hemlock Hill Loop

United States > North Carolina > Avery County > Banner Elk

Starting in Banner Elk, the loop heads out through town to Mill Pond, where calm water and a pleasant valley setting introduce the walk before the route turns toward the grounds of Lees-McRae College. From there, the itinerary continues across the college area and down to Wildcat Lake, a scenic lakeside…

Distance: 4.7 mi • Elevation gain: 686 ft • Maximum elevation: 3,871 ft

Gear up for your next adventure:

🎒Trail Energy Bars - High‑calorie bars for hiking energy
🔊Portable Camp Speaker - Music and alerts at camp
🪶Camping Sleeping Pad - Comfortable sleeping pad for backpacking
🦶Carbon Trekking Poles - Reduce knee impact on steep descents with ultra-light poles
🕶️GPS Smartphone Mount - Secure mount for phone navigation

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