Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5)–Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6), 8 sights is a 15.8-mile out-and-back near Stony Fork, NC. The route passes Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5), Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6) and Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7). It climbs 4,349 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi3,248 – 5,279 ft · steepest grade: 27%16.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Buck Spring Trail 35.41516, -82.74876
Nearest town Stony Fork, NC
Directions
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Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5)–Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6), 8 sights
15.8 mi · ▲ 4,349 ft · 7 hr 26 min
Elevation 3,249–5,279 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Buck Spring Trail · 35.41516, -82.74876
Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 78°F / low 62° · precip 19% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Buck Spring Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
- 1.2 miBear right onto 151 dh, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
- 1.7 miPass Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5).
- 1 miPass Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6).
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Stony Bald View, heading E.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shut-In Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miPass Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7).
- 1.9 miTurn right onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading S.
- 50 ftReach Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Shut-In Trail, heading SE.
- 2.7 miContinue straight onto Stony Bald View, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Shut-In Trail, heading NW.
- 3.8 miContinue straight onto 151 dh, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miBear left onto Buck Spring Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 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
Partly cloudyTemperature 78°F62°
Precip19%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity79%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°60°
Sunrise 7:06 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat
77°63°
15%
Sun
74°59°
59%
Mon
65°57°
36%
Tue
72°51°
Wed
76°52°
Thu
80°56°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~13 min). Leave by 7:23 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM — 2 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Buck Spring Trail Trailhead
- Mountains-to-Sea Viewpoint–Buck Spring Viewpoint, 4 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 427 ft
- Little Bald Mountain–Buck Spring Viewpoint, 4 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 628 ft
- 151 dh–Buck Spring Trail, 3 sights 2.8 mi · ▲ 1,169 ft
- Mount Pisgah–Buck Spring Trail, 3 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 842 ft
- Little Bald Mountain–Buck Spring Viewpoint, 6 sights 11.2 mi · ▲ 3,177 ft
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