AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Double Head–Cold Knob, 10 sights

15.6 mi · ▲ 4,295 ft · 7 hr 21 min

Double Head–Cold Knob, 10 sights is a 15.6-mile out-and-back near Bent Creek, NC. The route passes Cold Knob and Double Head before reaching Chestnut Cove Gap at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 4,295 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,192 – 3,714 ft · steepest grade: 40%15.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Ledford Branch Trailhead 35.49044, -82.62858
Nearest town Bent Creek, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Double Head–Cold Knob, 10 sights

15.6 mi · ▲ 4,295 ft · 7 hr 21 min

Elevation 2,191–3,713 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Ledford Branch Trailhead · 35.49044, -82.62858

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 93°F / low 71° · precip 21% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Ledford Branch Parking, heading W.
  2. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading W.
  3. 1 miSharp right onto Boyd Branch Road, heading NW.
  4. 350 ftTurn left onto Lower Sidehill Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.9 miTurn left onto Lower Sidehill Connector, heading SE.
  6. 0.4 miBear right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading SW.
  7. 250 ftBear left onto 479H, heading S.
  8. 300 ftBear right onto long branch, heading SW.
  9. 0.5 miSharp left onto South Ridge Road, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto long branch, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto cold knob ridge, heading S.
  12. 0.5 miPass Cold Knob.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto cold knob boundary trail, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Brushy Ridge Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.6 miPass Double Head.
  16. 100 ftTurn left onto Double Head Trail (county line), heading SE.
  17. 0.9 miSharp left onto Seniard Mountain Road, heading SE.
  18. 1.7 miTurn left, heading NE.
  19. 0.6 miPass Chestnut Cove Gap.
  20. 150 ftReach Double Head, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 2.3 miSharp right onto Double Head Trail (county line), heading S.
  22. 0.9 miTurn right onto Brushy Ridge Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.6 miContinue straight onto cold knob boundary trail, heading NW.
  24. 0.4 miContinue straight onto cold knob ridge, heading NW.
  25. 0.5 miContinue straight onto long branch, heading N.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left onto South Ridge Road, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftSharp right onto long branch, heading NE.
  28. 0.5 miBear left onto 479H, heading N.
  29. 250 ftBear right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading NE.
  30. 250 ftBear left onto Lower Sidehill Connector, heading N.
  31. 0.4 miTurn right onto Lower Sidehill Trail, heading N.
  32. 0.9 miTurn right onto Boyd Branch Road, heading NE.
  33. 350 ftSharp left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading NE.
  34. 1 miContinue straight onto Ledford Branch Parking, heading NE.
  35. 50 ftArrive 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/double-head-cold-knob-out-back-10-sights-25-km

Trail surface

16% dirt13% gravel71% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 93°F71°
Precip21%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity80%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
95°70° 1 AM: 3% rain10 AM: 1% rain11 AM: 1% rain12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 1% rain2 PM: 7% rain3 PM: 13% rain4 PM: 11% rain5 PM: 19% rain6 PM: 21% rain7 PM: 6% rain8 PM: 8% rain9 PM: 5% rain10 PM: 8% rain11 PM: 11% rain
Sunrise 7:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sun 86°68° 67%
Mon 76°64° 53%
Tue 81°59°
Wed 87°59°
Thu 89°62° 19%
Fri 86°65° 40%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.3 mi in (~160 min). Leave by 4:54 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Ledford Branch Trailhead Trailhead

Hikes near Bent Creek, North Carolina