AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Linville Gorge Wilderness

Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail & Olson via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

15 mi · ▲ 2,482 ft · 6 hr 14 min

Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail & Olson via Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a 15-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Linville, NC. It climbs 2,482 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,207 – 2,877 ft · steepest grade: 28%15.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Fonta Flora Trail 35.78366, -81.84374
Nearest town Linville, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail & Olson via Mountains-to-Sea Trail

15 mi · ▲ 2,482 ft · 6 hr 14 min

Elevation 1,209–2,876 ft

Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness

Trailhead: Fonta Flora Trail · 35.78366, -81.84374

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:50 PM

  1. Start on Fonta Flora Trail, heading N.
  2. 1.4 miBear left onto Fonta Flora Connector Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, heading NW.
  4. 2.6 miTurn right, heading W.
  5. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  8. 1.6 miTurn left onto Schoonover Crossover, heading NW.
  9. 200 ftBear right onto Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, heading NW.
  10. 250 ftTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
  11. 1 miBear right onto Rick's Crossover, heading N.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.6 miTurn right onto Olson, heading W.
  14. 50 ftReach Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.6 miTurn right onto Rick's Crossover, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SE.
  18. 1 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, heading S.
  19. 250 ftBear left onto Schoonover Crossover, heading S.
  20. 200 ftTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, heading S.
  21. 1.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  22. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  24. 500 ftBear right, heading SE.
  25. 300 ftBear left, heading N.
  26. 0.1 miTurn left onto Fonta Flora State Trail and Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, heading S.
  27. 2.6 miContinue straight onto Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail, heading SE.
  28. 0.1 miBear right onto Fonta Flora Trail, heading E.
  29. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mountains-to-sea-connector-trail-olson-out-back-24-km-6173

Trail surface

98% dirt2% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:50 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.4 mi in (~230 min). Leave by 3:39 PM for the 7:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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