Haw Creek Valley (MP 380.0) & Bull Gap via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

10.5 mi · ▲ 1,846 ft · 4 hr 25 min

Haw Creek Valley (MP 380.0) & Bull Gap via Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a 10.5-mile out-and-back near Rattlesnake Lodge, NC. The route passes Bull Gap before reaching Haw Creek Valley (MP 380.0) at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 1,846 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi2,838 – 3,347 ft · steepest grade: 23%10.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mountains to Sea Trail Connector 35.66980, -82.47128
Nearest town Rattlesnake Lodge, NC

Directions

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Haw Creek Valley (MP 380.0) & Bull Gap via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

10.5 mi · ▲ 1,846 ft · 4 hr 25 min

Elevation 2,838–3,347 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Mountains to Sea Trail Connector · 35.66980, -82.47128

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 88°F / low 69° · precip 15% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mountains to Sea Trail Connector, heading S.
  2. 50 ftPass Bull Gap.
  3. 150 ftSharp right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NW.
  4. 5.2 miSharp right onto Lunch Rock Trail, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftReach Haw Creek Valley (MP 380.0), then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 50 ftSharp left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
  7. 5.2 miSharp left onto Mountains to Sea Trail Connector, heading SE.
  8. 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

24% dirt76% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 88°F69°
Precip15%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity73%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65° 11 AM: 1% rain12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 2% rain2 PM: 3% rain3 PM: 6% rain4 PM: 8% rain5 PM: 13% rain6 PM: 15% rain7 PM: 8% rain8 PM: 10% rain9 PM: 7% rain10 PM: 10% rain11 PM: 12% rain
Sunrise 7:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sun 82°64° 56%
Mon 75°60° 34%
Tue 78°55°
Wed 83°56°
Thu 85°60°
Fri 80°62° 38%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~65 min). Leave by 6:28 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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