Mountains-to-Sea Trail
9.7 mi · ▲ 1,404 ft · 3 hr 56 min
Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Middle Prong Wilderness near Balsam Grove, NC. It climbs 1,404 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mountains-to-Sea Trail
9.7 mi · ▲ 1,404 ft · 3 hr 56 min
Elevation 5,103–5,792 ft
Out & Back · Middle Prong Wilderness
Trailhead: Devils Courthouse Trail · 35.30546, -82.89918
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 74°F / low 62° · precip 20% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:08 AM · sunset 7:55 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Devils Courthouse Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading W.
- 4.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 4.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Devils Courthouse Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.7 mi in (~138 min). Leave by 5:16 PM for the 7:55 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Devils Courthouse Trail Trailhead
- Silvermine Bald via Mountains-to-Sea Trail 3 mi · ▲ 537 ft
- Sam Knob–Sam Knob Viewpoint, 4 sights 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,212 ft
- Split Falls–Flat Laurel Creek Trail, 3 sights 8.8 mi · ▲ 965 ft
- Rough Butt Bald Overlook (MP 425.4) & Mt Hardy Trail via Mountains-to-Sea Trail 13.2 mi · ▲ 1,866 ft
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Hikes near Balsam Grove, North Carolina