Hawksbill Ledge–Hawksbill Trail Loop, 6 sights
11.4 mi · ▲ 2,824 ft · 5 hr 13 min
Hawksbill Ledge–Hawksbill Trail Loop, 6 sights is an 11.4-mile loop in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Cold Springs, NC. It climbs 2,824 ft, with sections as steep as 42% grade. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hawksbill Ledge–Hawksbill Trail Loop, 6 sights
11.4 mi · ▲ 2,824 ft · 5 hr 13 min
Elevation 1,979–3,906 ft
Loop · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: 35.94715, -81.85554
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miTurn right onto Lettered Rock, heading SW.
- 2.2 miSharp left, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Hawksbill Ledge, heading S.
- 1.2 miSharp left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Raspberry Ridge, heading NE.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 1.9 miContinue straight onto Steels Creek Trail, heading N.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.7 mi in (~201 min). Leave by 4:11 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Steels Creek Trail 3.7 mi · ▲ 641 ft
- Windling Stair Knob 3.9 mi · ▲ 760 ft
- Steels Creek Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 792 ft
- Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 4 sights 10 mi · ▲ 2,837 ft
- Devil's Cliff & Raspberry Ridge via Jonas Ridge Trail 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,484 ft
- Gingercake Mountain–Lettered Rock, 4 sights 11.1 mi · ▲ 2,543 ft
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Hikes near Cold Springs, North Carolina