Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5)–Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6), 6 viewpoints is a 14.8-mile out-and-back near Avery Creek, NC. The route passes View Chesnut Cove, Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7) and Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6) before reaching Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5) at the turnaround, 7.4 miles in. It climbs 3,136 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi2,881 – 4,137 ft · steepest grade: 28%15.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Shut-In Trail 35.46047, -82.63705
Nearest town Avery Creek, NC
Directions
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Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5)–Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6), 6 viewpoints
14.8 mi · ▲ 3,136 ft · 6 hr 30 min
Elevation 2,880–4,136 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Shut-In Trail · 35.46047, -82.63705
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:55 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Shut-In Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftPass View Chesnut Cove.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto cold knob ridge, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Shut-In Trail, heading SW.
- 2.7 miPass Beaver Dam Gap Overlook (MP 401.7).
- 1.9 miPass Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6).
- 1 miReach Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5), then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 5.7 miBear right onto cold knob ridge, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Shut-In Trail, heading NE.
- 1.7 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
100% dirt
Weather
Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:55 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.9 mi in (~226 min). Leave by 3:50 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Shut-In Trail Trailhead
- Grassy Knob–View Chesnut Cove Loop, 6 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,165 ft
- Cold Knob–View Chesnut Cove, 3 summits 4.3 mi · ▲ 873 ft
- View Chesnut Cove–479H, 5 sights 4.5 mi · ▲ 874 ft
- View Chesnut Cove–Lake Powhatan, 10 sights 8.4 mi · ▲ 1,694 ft
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Hikes near Avery Creek, North Carolina