“The Gulf has some challenging sections,” explains LeRoy. “If conditions are wet, it can be very slippery on the rocks. Caution should be used. Tevas and a walking stick are helpful accessories for crossing the river. Bring good quality hiking boots, rain gear, and plenty of drinking water and a snack or lunch.” Visitors can get a full array of hike planning resources at the AMC Trip Planner website.
The most popular hike, the Rim Trail, stretches over roughly an eight-mile loop, and can be done in one day. “Plan five to eight hours, depending if you stop to swim,” LeRoy says. The Pleasant River Crossing is approximately 150 feet wide, and there’s no bridge—plan accordingly with footwear and supplies. Summer usually brings the weakest currents and waist-high water; following a heavy rain (particularly in spring), the current may be faster and the depths greater. And once past the river, there are several narrow passageways and climbs over slippery rocks.
With such obstacles, why bother taking the risk? As with any challenging terrain, the rewards are great: Along the trail, hikers can see thirty-foot-high waterfalls, cliff walls (some plunging down more than 400 feet), vistas, and wildlife such as moose, river otters, and mink. Additionally, with its remote location, visitors often have the trail all to themselves, even in peak weather conditions.
And it’s not all death-defying adventure. The Rim Trail connects with the Pleasant River Tote Road on its final stretches, which offers wooded canopies and easier hiking conditions, without the slip-and-slide feel of some of the earlier rocky terrain.
Where to Stay: Greenville Inn, Greenville; rates from $140/night, double occupancy, including breakfast.
