Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 7 summits
15 mi · ▲ 3,907 ft · 6 hr 57 min
Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 7 summits is a 15-mile out-and-back in Asheville Watershed near Coleman, NC. The route passes Long Gap, Pots Cove Gap, Big Slaty and Graybeard Mountain before reaching Greybeard Peak at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 3,907 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 7 summits
15 mi · ▲ 3,907 ft · 6 hr 57 min
Elevation 2,216–5,404 ft
Out & Back · Asheville Watershed
Trailhead: Mill Creek Road · 35.63922, -82.25778
Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 90°F / low 73° · precip 21% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mill Creek Road, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Parris Creek Trail, heading N.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Long Gap.
- 0.7 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Graybeard Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miPass Big Slaty.
- 0.3 miPass Greybeard Peak.
- 250 ftReach Graybeard Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Parris Creek Trail, heading E.
- 2.4 miBear right onto Mill Creek Road, heading S.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.4 mi in (~277 min). Leave by 2:56 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mill Creek Road Trailhead
- Pots Cove–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles 9.4 mi · ▲ 2,397 ft
- Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits 11.4 mi · ▲ 3,327 ft
- Rattlesnake Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits 11.6 mi · ▲ 3,420 ft
- Shelter View–Buck Gap, 5 saddles 14.3 mi · ▲ 3,514 ft
- Rocky Knob–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles 16 mi · ▲ 3,749 ft
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