Beacon Heights Viewpoint–Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints
5.3 mi · ▲ 1,319 ft · 2 hr 26 min
Beacon Heights Viewpoint–Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints is a 5.3-mile out-and-back near Grandfather, NC. The route passes Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint before reaching Beacon Heights Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.7 miles in. It climbs 1,319 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Beacon Heights Viewpoint–Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints
5.3 mi · ▲ 1,319 ft · 2 hr 26 min
Elevation 3,338–4,358 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 36.07131, -81.82614
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 69° · precip 16% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
- 2.1 miContinue straight onto Beacon Heights Trail, heading E.
- 300 ftPass Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint.
- 50 ftReach Beacon Heights Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NW.
- 2.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.5 miArrive 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 2.6 mi in (~93 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from this trailhead
- Yancey Ridge Trail & Old House Gap 2.9 mi · ▲ 739 ft
- Beacon Heights & Mountains-to-Sea Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,319 ft
- Tanawha Viewpoint–Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 3 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,944 ft
- Roseboro Gragg Road & Old House Gap 9.3 mi · ▲ 1,355 ft
- BRP Trace–Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 3 sights 11.4 mi · ▲ 2,535 ft
- Tanawha Viewpoint–Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 3 sights 11.5 mi · ▲ 2,577 ft
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Hikes near Grandfather, North Carolina