Gingercake Mountain–Lettered Rock, 4 sights
11.1 mi · ▲ 2,543 ft · 4 hr 58 min
Gingercake Mountain–Lettered Rock, 4 sights is an 11.1-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Cold Springs, NC. The route reaches Gingercake Mountain. It climbs 2,543 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 69/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Gingercake Mountain–Lettered Rock, 4 sights
11.1 mi · ▲ 2,543 ft · 4 hr 58 min
Elevation 1,979–4,163 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: 35.94715, -81.85554
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Steels Creek Trail, heading W.
- 2 miTurn right onto Raspberry Ridge, heading SW.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miReach Gingercake Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Devil's Hole Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Lettered Rock, heading SE.
- 2.2 miTurn left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 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 5.3 mi in (~182 min). Leave by 4:30 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Steels Creek Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 641 ft
- Windling Stair Knob 3.9 mi · ▲ 760 ft
- Steels Creek Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 792 ft
- Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 4 sights 10 mi · ▲ 2,837 ft
- Devil's Cliff & Raspberry Ridge via Jonas Ridge Trail 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,484 ft
- Hawksbill Ledge–Hawksbill Trail Loop, 6 sights 11.4 mi · ▲ 2,824 ft
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Hikes near Cold Springs, North Carolina