Top mountain passes
Mountain PassNewfound Gap
Mountain PassSoco Gap
Mountain PassCraven Gap
Mountain PassBull Gap
Mountain PassBalsam Gap
Mountain PassGillespie Gap
Mountain PassBuck Creek Gap
Mountain PassGrandmother Gap
Mountain PassSwannanoa Gap
Mountain PassBearwallow Gap
Mountain PassBig Witch Gap
Mountain PassCarter Gap
Mountain Passes by county
- Avery County3
- Buncombe County6
- Clay County4
- Graham County5
- Haywood County7
- Jackson County5
- Macon County4
- Mitchell County4
- Swain County3
- Yancey County5
All mountain passes (55)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfound GapGreat Smoky Mountains | Swain County | 1,530 m | Gatlinburg | 3 |
| Soco Gap | Haywood County | 1,327 m | Maggie Valley | 3 |
| Craven Gap | Buncombe County | 952 m | Asheville | 5 |
| Bull Gap | Buncombe County | 960 m | Weaverville | 5 |
| Balsam Gap | Jackson County | 1,020 m | Hazelwood | 3 |
| Gillespie Gap | Mitchell County | — | Spruce Pine | 3 |
| Buck Creek Gap | Yancey County | — | Marion | 3 |
| Grandmother GapBlue Ridge | Avery County | 1,242 m | Banner Elk | 3 |
| Swannanoa Gap | Buncombe County | — | Black Mountain | 4 |
| Bearwallow Gap | Henderson County | 1,110 m | Fairview | 4 |
| Big Witch Gap | Jackson County | 1,262 m | Cherokee | 3 |
| Carter Gap | Clay County | 1,381 m | Mountain City | 3 |
| Drybone Gap | Jackson County | 1,199 m | Cullowhee | 3 |
| Wade Gap | Haywood County | 1,176 m | West Canton | 3 |
| Air Bellows Gap | Alleghany County | 1,136 m | Sparta | 3 |
| Alder Gap | Ashe County | 930 m | Jefferson | 3 |
| Andy Gap | Madison County | 908 m | Mars Hill | 3 |
| Ash Gap | Mitchell County | 1,626 m | Roan Mountain | 3 |
| Atoah Gap | Graham County | 942 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Axe Gap | Graham County | 939 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Bald Gap | Haywood County | 1,176 m | Cove Creek | 3 |
| Bald Gap | Jackson County | 1,480 m | Cullowhee | 3 |
| Ballard GapBlue Ridge | Buncombe County | 986 m | Swannanoa | 5 |
| Balsam Gap | Yancey County | 1,625 m | Black Mountain | 3 |
| Barker Road Gap | Graham County | 1,194 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Bateman Gap | Macon County | 1,072 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Bates Gap | Macon County | 957 m | Franklin | 3 |
| Bear Gap | Clay County | 1,295 m | Mountain City | 3 |
| Bear Gap | Yancey County | 1,665 m | Black Mountain | 3 |
| Bear Gap | Yancey County | 979 m | Banner Hill | 3 |
| Bear Mountain Gap | Jackson County | 1,314 m | Cullowhee | 3 |
| Bear Wallow Gap | Haywood County | 1,252 m | Cove Creek | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Avery County | 1,129 m | Spruce Pine | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Buncombe County | 1,590 m | Black Mountain | 4 |
| Bearpen Gap | Cherokee County | 975 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Cherokee County | 1,201 m | Murphy | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Clay County | 1,122 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Haywood County | 1,696 m | Hazelwood | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Macon County | 1,440 m | Mountain City | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Macon County | 1,104 m | Franklin | 3 |
| Bearpen GapGreat Smoky Mountains | Swain County | 916 m | Bryson City | 3 |
| Bearpen Gap | Avery County | 1,173 m | Banner Elk | 3 |
| Beartrail Ridge Gap | Haywood County | 1,789 m | Hazelwood | 3 |
| Bearwallow Gap | Mitchell County | 1,059 m | Spruce Pine | 3 |
| Bearwallow Gap | Mitchell County | 1,058 m | Unicoi | 3 |
| Bearwallow Gap | Madison County | 1,149 m | Mars Hill | 3 |
| Beaverdam Gap | Buncombe County | 1,147 m | West Canton | 3 |
| Beaverdam Gap | Henderson County | 1,093 m | Avery Creek | 4 |
| Bee Gap | Graham County | 1,222 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Beech Gap | Clay County | 1,351 m | Mountain City | 3 |
| Beech Gap | Swain County | 1,545 m | Maggie Valley | 3 |
| Beech Gap | Transylvania County | 1,626 m | Brevard | 3 |
| Beech Gap | Graham County | 1,366 m | Andrews | 3 |
| Beech Spring Gap | Haywood County | 1,714 m | Hazelwood | 3 |
| Beech Nursery Gap | Yancey County | 1,647 m | Black Mountain | 3 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph mountain passes
Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.
- Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
- Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
- Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
- Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
- Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.
Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.