Hawksbill Mountain–Gingercake Mountain, 5 sights
7.3 mi · ▲ 2,126 ft · 3 hr 30 min
Hawksbill Mountain–Gingercake Mountain, 5 sights is a 7.3-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Cold Springs, NC. The route passes Gingercake Mountain and Hawksbill Mountain. It climbs 2,126 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hawksbill Mountain–Gingercake Mountain, 5 sights
7.3 mi · ▲ 2,126 ft · 3 hr 30 min
Elevation 3,037–4,163 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: 35.94193, -81.89438
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 64° · precip 20% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Gingercake Mountain.
- 2 miContinue straight onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Hawksbill Mountain.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Hawksbill Trail, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Hawksbill Ledge, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 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 1.0 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 6:59 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from this trailhead
- Windling Stair Knob–Gingercake Mountain, 3 summits 13.8 mi · ▲ 3,073 ft
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