Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 5 summits
4 mi · ▲ 1,583 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 5 summits is a 4-mile out-and-back near Montreat, NC. The route passes Sourwood Gap, Buck Gap and Lookout Mountain before reaching Copperhead Mountain at the turnaround, 2 miles in. It climbs 1,583 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 5 summits
4 mi · ▲ 1,583 ft · 2 hr 7 min
Elevation 3,180–3,889 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Appalachian Way · 35.64986, -82.29298
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 86°F / low 70° · precip 23% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Appalachian Way, heading NE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto East Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Sourwood Gap.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SE.
- 100 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 50 ftBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miPass Lookout Mountain.
- 50 ftBear left onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miReach Copperhead Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Way, heading N.
- 0.4 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 2.0 mi in (~75 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Appalachian Way Trailhead
- Rocky Head–Shelter View, 7 saddles 3.7 mi · ▲ 1,151 ft
- Shelter View–Rainbow Gap, 4 sights 3.8 mi · ▲ 874 ft
- Shelter View–Sourwood Gap, 6 saddles 6.9 mi · ▲ 1,800 ft
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