Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 4 sights
10 mi · ▲ 2,837 ft · 4 hr 45 min
Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 4 sights is a 10-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Cold Springs, NC. The route passes Hawksbill Mountain before reaching Hawksbill Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 2,837 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 4 sights
10 mi · ▲ 2,837 ft · 4 hr 45 min
Elevation 1,979–4,024 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 left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Lettered Rock, heading SW.
- 2.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftReach Hawksbill Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftPass Hawksbill Viewpoint.
- 150 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Lettered Rock, heading E.
- 2.2 miTurn left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 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 5.0 mi in (~187 min). Leave by 4:26 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:31 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
- Devil's Cliff & Raspberry Ridge via Jonas Ridge Trail 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,484 ft
- Gingercake Mountain–Lettered Rock, 4 sights 11.1 mi · ▲ 2,543 ft
- Hawksbill Ledge–Hawksbill Trail Loop, 6 sights 11.4 mi · ▲ 2,824 ft
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Hikes near Cold Springs, North Carolina