Headquarters Mountain Trail
8.7 mi · ▲ 1,875 ft · 3 hr 50 min
Headquarters Mountain Trail is an 8.7-mile out-and-back near Pineola, NC. It climbs 1,875 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Headquarters Mountain Trail
8.7 mi · ▲ 1,875 ft · 3 hr 50 min
Elevation 2,812–3,909 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Old Mortimer Road · 36.01218, -81.85875
Weather Sep 5: Mostly clear, high 84°F / low 68° · precip 14% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 0.9 miSharp right onto Old Mortimer Road, heading S.
- 450 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Headquarters Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 1.2 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 1.3 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Old Mortimer Road, heading E.
- 450 ftSharp left, heading N.
- 0.9 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 2.0 mi in (~70 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Old Mortimer Road Trailhead
- Big Lost Cove Cliffs Viewpoint & Big Lost Cove Cliffs Trail 3.5 mi · ▲ 687 ft
- Old Mortimer Road 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,043 ft
- Old Mortimer Road 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,042 ft
- Headquarters Mountain Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,365 ft
- Headquarters Mountain Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,364 ft
- Headquarters Mountain Trail 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,876 ft
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Hikes near Pineola, North Carolina