Mount Pisgah–Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5), 7 sights is a 12.5-mile out-and-back near Stony Fork, NC. The route passes Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6) and Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5) before reaching Mount Pisgah at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 3,154 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi3,740 – 5,699 ft · steepest grade: 26%12.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Shut-In Trail 35.45391, -82.69394
Nearest town Stony Fork, NC
Directions
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Mount Pisgah–Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5), 7 sights
12.5 mi · ▲ 3,154 ft · 5 hr 45 min
Elevation 3,741–5,699 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Shut-In Trail · 35.45391, -82.69394
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 86°F / low 68° · precip 17% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Shut-In Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miPass Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6).
- 1 miPass Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5).
- 1.7 miContinue straight onto 151 dh, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NW.
- 1.2 miSharp right, heading S.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Mount Pisgah Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miReach Mount Pisgah, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miBear right onto 151 dh, heading NE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NE.
- 3.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
99% dirt1% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 86°F68°
Precip17%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity62%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°65°
Sunrise 7:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sun
79°63°
67%
Mon
69°61°
59%
Tue
76°56°
Wed
81°57°
Thu
84°60°
23%
Fri
73°60°
42%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~53 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Shut-In Trail Trailhead
- Green Top via Shut-In Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,316 ft
- Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint–Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5), 8 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 2,978 ft
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