Linville Gorge Wilderness

Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint & Hawksbill Ledge Loop

2.8 mi · ▲ 920 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint & Hawksbill Ledge Loop is a 2.8-mile loop in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Wisemans View, NC. The route reaches Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint. It climbs 920 ft, with sections as steep as 46% grade. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi3,035 – 3,986 ft · steepest grade: 46%2.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Hawksbill Trail 35.91431, -81.87840
Nearest town Wisemans View, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint & Hawksbill Ledge Loop

2.8 mi · ▲ 920 ft · 1 hr 24 min

Elevation 3,037–3,986 ft

Loop · Linville Gorge Wilderness

Trailhead: Hawksbill Trail · 35.91431, -81.87840

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 83°F / low 69° · precip 19% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
  2. 0.9 miBear left onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftReach Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  4. 100 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
  5. 350 ftTurn left onto Hawksbill Ledge, heading SE.
  6. 1.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  7. 0.6 miThe 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

36% dirt21% gravel43% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 83°F69°
Precip19%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity86%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
85°65° 1 PM: 7% rain2 PM: 11% rain3 PM: 18% rain4 PM: 19% rain5 PM: 8% rain6 PM: 8% rain7 PM: 4% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 1% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 7:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sat 86°69° 17%
Sun 88°63° 73%
Mon 72°61° 56%
Tue 75°56°
Wed 84°58°
Thu 84°63°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:45 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Hawksbill Trail Trailhead