Linville Gorge Wilderness

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

0 mi1,978 – 4,023 ft · steepest grade: 35%10.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 35.94715, -81.85554
Nearest town Cold Springs, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.4 miTurn left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading E.
  3. 1.4 miTurn right onto Lettered Rock, heading SW.
  4. 2.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.9 miSharp right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading W.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftReach Hawksbill Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 50 ftPass Hawksbill Viewpoint.
  10. 150 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftSharp left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
  13. 50 ftSharp right onto Lettered Rock, heading E.
  14. 2.2 miTurn left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading NE.
  15. 1.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  16. 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 7:53 PM

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.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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