Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint–Hawksbill Ledge, 4 sights
7 mi · ▲ 1,800 ft · 3 hr 14 min
Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint–Hawksbill Ledge, 4 sights is a 7-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Cold Springs, NC. The route reaches Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint. It climbs 1,800 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint–Hawksbill Ledge, 4 sights
7 mi · ▲ 1,800 ft · 3 hr 14 min
Elevation 3,037–4,080 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: 35.93988, -81.88282
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 67° · precip 20% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 1.5 miContinue straight onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Hawksbill Alt summit Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Hawksbill Ledge, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 3.1 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 1.1 mi in (~41 min). Leave by 6:52 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
More from this trailhead
- Gingercake Mountain via Jonas Ridge Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 694 ft
- Jonas Ridge Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 772 ft
- Devil's Cliff via Jonas Ridge Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 1,177 ft
- Lettered Rock–Raspberry Ridge Loop, 3 sights 9.7 mi · ▲ 1,947 ft
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Hikes near Cold Springs, North Carolina