As the trail departs the gap, a small side trail leads off to the left to Bull Cave. Bull Cave is very deep and requires a permit from the National Park Service to enter. There is also a large sinkhole in the area, a reflection of the limestone underlying the area.
It’s fairly flat, making for a pleasant journey in the woods. Fall and Winter offers the best views, but they are obscured by trees.
The trail drops through Kelly Gap, where Campsite #4 once existed. You’ll find an old railroad bed, used by the Little River Lumber Company when it logged the area. Once you reach the Beard Cane trail head, you can retrace your steps back to your car or continue. Unlike the rest of the park, there isn’t a great deal of water sources on this trail, so make sure you have an adequate supply before your head out.
To reach the trailhead, you can either take the Rich Mountain Road from Cades Cove to the park boundary at Rich Mountain Gap or access the area through Dry Valley.
There is a small parking lot at the trailhead that serves both the Ace Gap Trail and the Rich Mountain Trail, which is on the opposite side of the road.