Back 3 Gaps Question

If you park at Vogel State Park (on the descent from Neels Gap) you can easily do the back 3 in order.

Thanks for much for the responses! On mapquest it didn't look like you could screw up too easily, just couldn't tell where would be a good place to park and start.

I agree with Andrew.  I would park on the little gravel area at the intersection of 19 & 180.  It is just past a little country store on the left.  Take a right on 180.  This is where my $.02  helps I hope.  I am pretty sure it is about 7 miles from the stop sign/parking spot to the top of Jack's Gap.  There are a few dips on the way.  When you turn right at the dead end onto 75, I think it is thee miles to the top of Unicoi with no dips.  I think it is 7 miles from the top of Unicoi to the right hand turn to go toward Hogpen.   I think there is a sign saying Cleveland, but here is a definite land mark.  There is a Tubing outfitter in the right intersection jus after the right hand turn (should be a lot of pink innertubes laying around.

After a few miles from the Tubing outfitter/turn, you will see a sign that says Richard Russell Scenic Highway.  It is 7 miles from there to the top of Hogpen.  Watch the mile markers.  It helps if you have never done the ride.  After about two miles of climbing, you get about a mile dip THEN you do the real climb.  From about the 3 mile marker to the 5 mile marker is tough.  It eases up considerably about 75 yards after the 5 mile marker.  There is another dip somewhere around 6 miles and then it climbs to top just past the 7 mile marker. 

Be careful on the way down and feather your brakes if you get to going too fast.  The entire loop is 40 miles.   Have fun.  

I'll be riding the Gaps (some version) every weekend until Six Gap. You're welcome to ride along if you wish. Check out the thread for this weekend.

Thanks for the invite! I'd definitely like to ride there as much as possible. So hard to get a yard pass right now with my kids' sporting activities starting up on weekends. I'm having to burn a vacation day to make sure I can at least go once before the "big day". I'll definitely shoot a PM or post if I'm headed up one weekend.