Rattlesnake Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits
11.6 mi · ▲ 3,420 ft · 5 hr 35 min
Rattlesnake Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits is an 11.6-mile out-and-back near Coleman, NC. The route passes Buck Gap and Lookout Mountain before reaching Rattlesnake Mountain at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 3,420 ft, with sections as steep as 38% grade. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits
11.6 mi · ▲ 3,420 ft · 5 hr 35 min
Elevation 2,216–3,889 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Mill Creek Road · 35.63922, -82.25778
Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 90°F / low 73° · precip 21% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mill Creek Road, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Parris Creek Trail, heading N.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 100 ftBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miPass Lookout Mountain.
- 100 ftBear left onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Rattlesnake Mountain Trail, heading S.
- 400 ftReach Rattlesnake Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 400 ftBear right onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Hickory Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading N.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Parris Creek Trail, heading E.
- 2.4 miBear right onto Mill Creek Road, heading S.
- 50 ftArrive 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 5.6 mi in (~201 min). Leave by 4:13 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mill Creek Road Trailhead
- Pots Cove–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles 9.4 mi · ▲ 2,397 ft
- Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits 11.4 mi · ▲ 3,327 ft
- Shelter View–Buck Gap, 5 saddles 14.3 mi · ▲ 3,514 ft
- Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 7 summits 15 mi · ▲ 3,907 ft
- Rocky Knob–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles 16 mi · ▲ 3,749 ft
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Hikes near Coleman, North Carolina