Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area
Beacon Heights–Beacon Heights Viewpoint, 5 sights
11.7 mi · ▲ 2,431 ft · 5 hr 7 min
Beacon Heights–Beacon Heights Viewpoint, 5 sights is an 11.7-mile out-and-back in Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area near Grandfather, NC. The route passes Beacon Heights Viewpoint, Beacon Heights and Old House Gap. It climbs 2,431 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Beacon Heights–Beacon Heights Viewpoint, 5 sights
11.7 mi · ▲ 2,431 ft · 5 hr 7 min
Elevation 2,115–4,380 ft
Out & Back · Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area
Trailhead: Beacon Heights Trail · 36.08261, -81.82840
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 81°F / low 62° · precip 14% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
- Start on Beacon Heights Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Beacon Heights Viewpoint.
- 350 ftPass Beacon Heights.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 2.6 miTurn right onto Old House Gap Road, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Old House Gap.
- 3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Lost Cove Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftReach Beacon Heights, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 2.3 miContinue straight onto Old House Gap Road, heading N.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
- 2.6 miContinue straight onto Beacon Heights Trail, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~4 min). Leave by 7:28 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:13 PM — 6 min before dark.
More from Beacon Heights Trail Trailhead
- Tanawha Viewpoint & Tanawha Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 605 ft
- Marks Mountain Trail–Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 4 sights 13.1 mi · ▲ 2,279 ft
- Mountains-to-Sea Trail–Old House Gap Road, 3 sights 16 mi · ▲ 2,947 ft
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