AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

High Point State Park

Mount McMitchell–Blue Dot Viewpoint, 7 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 1,839 ft · 5 hr 23 min

Mount McMitchell–Blue Dot Viewpoint, 7 sights is a 13.4-mile out-and-back in High Point State Park near Colesville, NJ. The route passes Blue Dot Viewpoint, Appalachian Viewpoint and Mount McMitchell before reaching Brink Pond at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 1,839 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,001 – 1,611 ft · steepest grade: 22%13.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: AT Connector Trail 41.30268, -74.66748
Nearest town Colesville, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount McMitchell–Blue Dot Viewpoint, 7 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 1,839 ft · 5 hr 23 min

Elevation 1,001–1,609 ft

Out & Back · High Point State Park

Trailhead: AT Connector Trail · 41.30268, -74.66748

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:24 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on AT Connector Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Iris Trail, heading N.
  3. 500 ftTurn left onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.7 miPass Blue Dot Viewpoint.
  5. 50 ftPass Appalachian Viewpoint.
  6. 2.2 miContinue straight onto Iris/Appalachian Trail, heading S.
  7. 300 ftContinue straight onto Iris Trail, heading S.
  8. 1.1 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading S.
  9. 1.4 miTurn left onto Explorer Trail, heading SW.
  10. 0.4 miPass Mount McMitchell.
  11. 0.5 miBear right onto Tenderfoot Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Explorer Trail, heading NE.
  13. 0.1 miPass Brink Pond.
  14. 100 ftReach Mount McMitchell, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.1 miBear left onto Tenderfoot Trail, heading S.
  16. 50 ftBear left onto Explorer Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.8 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading NW.
  18. 1.4 miTurn left onto Iris Trail, heading NE.
  19. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Iris/Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
  20. 300 ftContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  21. 2.9 miTurn right onto Iris Trail, heading N.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left onto AT Connector Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/blue-dot-viewpoint-appalachian-viewpoint-out-back-7-sights-22-km-ddd4

Trail surface

70% dirt30% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:24 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:24 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from AT Connector Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Colesville, New Jersey