Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 5 summits
8.4 mi · ▲ 2,401 ft · 4 hr
Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 5 summits is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Asheville Watershed near Montreat, NC. The route passes Pots Cove Gap, Big Slaty and Graybeard Mountain before reaching Greybeard Peak at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 2,401 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 5 summits
8.4 mi · ▲ 2,401 ft · 4 hr
Elevation 3,003–5,404 ft
Out & Back · Asheville Watershed
Trailhead: Graybeard Trail · 35.65954, -82.29599
Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 86°F / low 72° · precip 23% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Graybeard Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Graybeard Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miPass Big Slaty.
- 0.3 miPass Greybeard Peak.
- 500 ftReach Graybeard Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Graybeard Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 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 4.1 mi in (~167 min). Leave by 4:47 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Graybeard Trail Trailhead
- Pots Cove–Pots Cove Gap, 3 saddles 2.8 mi · ▲ 914 ft
- Long Gap–Graybeard Trail, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 1,104 ft
- Rocky Head–Long Gap, 3 summits 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,368 ft
- Graybeard Falls–Pots Cove Gap, 3 saddles 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,496 ft
- Pots Cove–Pots Cove Gap, 3 saddles 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,519 ft
- Walker's Knob–Walkers Knob, 4 summits 7.3 mi · ▲ 1,809 ft
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