Lookout Mountain–Rainbow Gap, 3 summits is a 4-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. The route passes Lookout Mountain and Rainbow Gap. It climbs 1,429 ft, with sections as steep as 48% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 37/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi3,186 – 3,790 ft · steepest grade: 48%4.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Adventure Trail 35.63253, -82.27142
Nearest town Ridgecrest, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Lookout Mountain–Rainbow Gap, 3 summits
4 mi · ▲ 1,429 ft · 2 hr 3 min
Elevation 3,187–3,790 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Adventure Trail · 35.63253, -82.27142
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 90°F / low 68° · precip 15% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Adventure Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 450 ftPass Lookout Mountain.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Lookout Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading SW.
- 450 ftPass Rainbow Gap.
- 200 ftBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Rainbow Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miReach Lookout Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right onto Old Trestle Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lookout Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading SE.
- 400 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
78% dirt22% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 90°F68°
Precip15%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity72%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65°
Sunrise 7:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sun
84°66°
73%
Mon
72°63°
73%
Tue
75°58°
Wed
84°61°
Thu
85°66°
Fri
78°64°
37%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~45 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Adventure Trail Trailhead
- Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 3 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 1,435 ft
- Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 12 summits 15.5 mi · ▲ 4,502 ft
- Buck Gap–Adventure Trail, 4 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 3,717 ft
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Hikes near Ridgecrest, North Carolina