Middle Prong Wilderness

Devils Courthouse–Devils Courthouse Viewpoint, 5 sights

8.6 mi · ▲ 898 ft · 3 hr 19 min

Devils Courthouse–Devils Courthouse Viewpoint, 5 sights is an 8.6-mile out-and-back in Middle Prong Wilderness near Balsam Grove, NC. The route passes Split Falls and Devils Courthouse before reaching Devils Courthouse Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.3 miles in. It climbs 898 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi4,994 – 5,755 ft8.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 35.30805, -82.90919
Nearest town Balsam Grove, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Devils Courthouse–Devils Courthouse Viewpoint, 5 sights

8.6 mi · ▲ 898 ft · 3 hr 19 min

Elevation 4,994–5,754 ft

Out & Back · Middle Prong Wilderness

Trailhead: 35.30805, -82.90919

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 200 ftPass Split Falls.
  3. 2.6 miSharp right onto Little Sam Trail, heading SW.
  4. 1.2 miTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Devils Courthouse Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.1 miPass Devils Courthouse Viewpoint.
  8. 150 ftReach Devils Courthouse, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.3 miTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left onto Little Sam Trail, heading N.
  11. 1.2 miSharp left onto Flat Laurel Creek Trail, heading NW.
  12. 2.6 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

68% dirt32% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.3 mi in (~130 min). Leave by 5:26 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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