AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Double Head–Cold Knob, 12 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 3,677 ft · 6 hr 8 min

Double Head–Cold Knob, 12 sights is a 12.9-mile out-and-back near Bent Creek, NC. The route passes Lake Powhatan, Lake Powhatan Beach, Cold Knob and Double Head. It climbs 3,677 ft, with sections as steep as 44% grade. It scores 47/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,152 – 3,714 ft · steepest grade: 44%13.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Wesley Branch Road 35.48198, -82.62865
Nearest town Bent Creek, NC
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Double Head–Cold Knob, 12 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 3,677 ft · 6 hr 8 min

Elevation 2,154–3,713 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Wesley Branch Road · 35.48198, -82.62865

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Wesley Branch Road, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Powhatan.
  3. 50 ftPass Lake Powhatan Beach.
  4. 450 ftBear left onto Homestead Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wesley Branch Road, heading NW.
  6. 0.7 miBear right onto Pine Tree Connector, heading SW.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Explorer Loop, heading SW.
  8. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading W.
  9. 400 ftSharp left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading NW.
  10. 0.6 miBear left onto 479H, heading SW.
  11. 300 ftBear right onto long branch, heading S.
  12. 0.5 miSharp left onto South Ridge Road, heading W.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto long branch, heading W.
  14. 0.3 miContinue straight onto cold knob ridge, heading SW.
  15. 0.5 miPass Cold Knob.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto cold knob boundary trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Brushy Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.6 miPass Double Head.
  19. 1.4 miTurn right onto Seniard Mountain Road, heading SE.
  20. 500 ftSharp left onto Wash Creek Road, heading E.
  21. 0.3 miTurn right onto Hendersonville Reservoir, heading SE.
  22. 500 ftTurn right onto microchip i, heading SE.
  23. 0.3 miTurn left onto microchip ii, heading NW.
  24. 0.3 miReach Double Head, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right onto microchip i, heading N.
  26. 0.3 miTurn left onto Hendersonville Reservoir, heading S.
  27. 500 ftTurn left onto Wash Creek Road, heading SE.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right onto Seniard Mountain Road, heading N.
  29. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  30. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Brushy Ridge Trail, heading W.
  31. 1.6 miContinue straight onto cold knob boundary trail, heading NW.
  32. 0.4 miContinue straight onto cold knob ridge, heading NW.
  33. 0.5 miContinue straight onto long branch, heading NE.
  34. 0.3 miTurn left onto South Ridge Road, heading N.
  35. 50 ftSharp right onto long branch, heading N.
  36. 0.5 miBear left onto 479H, heading N.
  37. 300 ftBear right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading N.
  38. 0.6 miSharp right onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading NE.
  39. 400 ftContinue straight onto Explorer Loop, heading NE.
  40. 0.1 miTurn left onto Pine Tree Connector, heading NE.
  41. 150 ftBear left onto Pine Tree Loop, heading NE.
  42. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Wesley Branch Road, heading N.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Homestead Trail, heading N.
  44. 50 ftBear right onto Wesley Branch Road, heading N.
  45. 200 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-11-sights

Trail surface

19% dirt81% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:55 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~139 min). Leave by 5:16 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Wesley Branch Road Trailhead

Hikes near Bent Creek, North Carolina