Guion Parking–Hickory Mountain Road Loop, 4 sights

2.4 mi · ▲ 166 ft · 53 min

Guion Parking–Hickory Mountain Road Loop, 4 sights is a 2.4-mile loop near Hamilton Estates, NC. It is mostly level, with 166 ft of elevation gain. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,546 – 2,749 ft2.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Shoal Creek Trail 35.21901, -82.58813
Nearest town Hamilton Estates, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Guion Parking–Hickory Mountain Road Loop, 4 sights

2.4 mi · ▲ 166 ft · 53 min

Elevation 2,547–2,750 ft

Loop

Trailhead: Shoal Creek Trail · 35.21901, -82.58813

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 87°F / low 68° · precip 16% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:55 PM

  1. Start on Shoal Creek Trail, heading NE.
  2. 1.1 miSharp right onto Guion Parking, heading N.
  3. 0.4 miTurn right onto Hickory Mountain Road, heading W.
  4. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Ruffed Grouse Trail, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hickory Mountain Road, heading NW.
  6. 450 ftTurn right onto Guion Trail, heading NW.
  7. 200 ftSharp right onto Rifle Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left onto Ruffed Grouse Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
  10. 100 ftSharp right onto Shoal Creek Trail, heading E.
  11. 150 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

15% gravel85% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 87°F68°
Precip16%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity81%
Rained 0.1″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65° 1 PM: 1% rain2 PM: 6% rain3 PM: 15% rain4 PM: 15% rain5 PM: 16% rain6 PM: 9% rain7 PM: 2% rain8 PM: 2% rain9 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:55 PM
Sat 91°70° 15%
Sun 87°66° 59%
Mon 73°65° 44%
Tue 77°59°
Wed 84°61°
Thu 91°64°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 7:09 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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