Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 6 sights
9 mi · ▲ 3,605 ft · 4 hr 48 min
Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 6 sights is a 9-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Wisemans View, NC. The route passes Hawksbill Mountain before reaching Hawksbill Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 3,605 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hawksbill Mountain–Hawksbill Viewpoint, 6 sights
9 mi · ▲ 3,605 ft · 4 hr 48 min
Elevation 2,322–4,024 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: Babel Tower Trail · 35.91850, -81.91953
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 81°F / low 65° · precip 20% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Babel Tower Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miSharp right onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn left onto Devil's Hole Trail, heading SE.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Hawksbill Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Hawksbill Viewpoint.
- 100 ftReach Hawksbill Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear right onto Hawksbill Alt summit, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Hawksbill Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Jonas Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Devil's Hole Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 1.3 miSharp left onto Babel Tower Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 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 4.5 mi in (~163 min). Leave by 4:50 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Babel Tower Trail Trailhead
- Brushy Ridge Falls–Babel Tower Trail, 3 sights 4.6 mi · ▲ 1,366 ft
- Brushy Ridge Falls–Babel Tower Trail, 4 sights 6.8 mi · ▲ 2,277 ft
- Cathedral Falls & Babel Tower Trail via Linville Gorge Trail 9.1 mi · ▲ 2,310 ft
- Babel Tower Trail–Devil's Hole Trail, 3 sights 12.2 mi · ▲ 4,464 ft
- Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint–Babel Tower Trail, 6 sights 14.5 mi · ▲ 4,257 ft
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Hikes near Wisemans View, North Carolina