AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hickey Fork Sunset Point–Hickey Fork Trail, 4 sights

14.5 mi · ▲ 3,160 ft · 6 hr 25 min

Hickey Fork Sunset Point–Hickey Fork Trail, 4 sights is a 14.5-mile out-and-back near Allenstand, NC. The route reaches Hickey Fork Sunset Point. It climbs 3,160 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,323 – 4,682 ft · steepest grade: 17%14.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 35.98280, -82.72083
Nearest town Allenstand, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hickey Fork Sunset Point–Hickey Fork Trail, 4 sights

14.5 mi · ▲ 3,160 ft · 6 hr 25 min

Elevation 2,324–4,681 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 35.98280, -82.72083

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 88°F / low 68° · precip 12% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

  1. Start on Pounding Mill Trail, heading SW.
  2. 2.8 miContinue straight onto Hickey Fork Trail, heading NE.
  3. 2.1 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto Hickey Fork Trail, heading NE.
  5. 0.2 miPass Hickey Fork Sunset Point.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  7. 1.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  8. 450 ftTurn left onto Jones Meadow Access Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.3 miReach Hickey Fork Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.3 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
  11. 400 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  12. 1.7 miContinue straight onto Hickey Fork Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miBear right onto Appalachian Trail, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Hickey Fork Trail, heading S.
  15. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Pounding Mill Trail, heading NW.
  16. 2.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/hickey-fork-sunset-point-hickey-fork-trail-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

59% dirt2% paved39% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 88°F68°
Precip12%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity79%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 7:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat 89°70° 30%
Sun 83°68° 28%
Mon 77°65° 18%
Tue 83°59°
Wed 83°61°
Thu 86°65° 21%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~66 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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