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

0 mi2,113 – 4,380 ft · steepest grade: 20%11.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Beacon Heights Trail 36.08261, -81.82840
Nearest town Grandfather, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start on Beacon Heights Trail, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Beacon Heights Viewpoint.
  3. 350 ftPass Beacon Heights.
  4. 350 ftContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
  5. 2.6 miTurn right onto Old House Gap Road, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftPass Old House Gap.
  7. 3 miTurn left, heading S.
  8. 150 ftTurn right onto Lost Cove Trail, heading S.
  9. 50 ftReach Beacon Heights, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
  12. 2.3 miContinue straight onto Old House Gap Road, heading N.
  13. 0.7 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
  14. 2.6 miContinue straight onto Beacon Heights Trail, heading W.
  15. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  16. 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 81°F62°
Precip14%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity84%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 7:02 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sat 80°63° 17%
Sun 79°60° 69%
Mon 67°55° 49%
Tue 71°52°
Wed 77°55°
Thu 79°60°

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 sunset hikes nearby

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