Marks Mountain Trail–Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 5 sights is a 15.5-mile out-and-back near Grandfather, NC. The route reaches Old House Gap. It climbs 2,649 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi2,415 – 4,311 ft · steepest grade: 20%16.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Tanawha Trail 36.09032, -81.81460
Nearest town Grandfather, NC
Directions
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Marks Mountain Trail–Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 5 sights
15.5 mi · ▲ 2,649 ft · 6 hr 29 min
Elevation 2,414–4,312 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Tanawha Trail · 36.09032, -81.81460
Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 80°F / low 64° · precip 14% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:02 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Tanawha Trail, heading SW.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Beacon Heights Trail, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 2.5 miPass Old House Gap.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Yancey Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Marks Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 3.4 miReach Tanawha Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 3.4 miSharp left onto Yancey Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
- 2.6 miBear left onto Beacon Heights Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tanawha Trail, heading E.
- 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
55% dirt1% gravel44% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 80°F64°
Precip14%Wind2 mphUV7Humidity84%
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 7:02 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sat
79°66°
17%
Sun
79°60°
69%
Mon
66°55°
49%
Tue
70°52°
Wed
77°55°
Thu
79°59°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Tanawha Trail Trailhead
- Yonahlossee Overlook via Tanawha Trail 1 mi · ▲ 177 ft
- Beacon Heights Viewpoint–Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint, 3 viewpoints 2.9 mi · ▲ 515 ft
- Tanawha Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 1,001 ft
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Hikes near Grandfather, North Carolina