Lookout Mountain–Buck Gap, 4 sights
15.4 mi · ▲ 4,181 ft · 7 hr 13 min
Lookout Mountain–Buck Gap, 4 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. The route passes Buck Gap and Lookout Mountain. It climbs 4,181 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lookout Mountain–Buck Gap, 4 sights
15.4 mi · ▲ 4,181 ft · 7 hr 13 min
Elevation 2,216–3,889 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Mill Creek Road · 35.62773, -82.26269
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 90°F / low 71° · precip 21% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mill Creek Road, heading NE.
- 1.3 miBear left onto Parris Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 100 ftBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miPass Lookout Mountain.
- 100 ftBear left onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear left onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Lake Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftReach Lookout Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading NW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Parris Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 2.4 miBear right onto Mill Creek Road, heading S.
- 1.2 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 6.9 mi in (~234 min). Leave by 3:40 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mill Creek Road Trailhead
- Mill Creek Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 255 ft
- Bernard Mountain Road 5.6 mi · ▲ 637 ft
- Bernard Mountain Trail & Point Lookout Trail 11.1 mi · ▲ 1,552 ft
- Sourwood Gap–Appalachian Way, 3 sights 11.9 mi · ▲ 2,920 ft
- Boggs Bunion–Buck Gap, 5 sights 14.2 mi · ▲ 3,590 ft
- Long Gap–Harry Bryan Trail, 4 sights 14.5 mi · ▲ 3,406 ft
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