Rocky Head–Sourwood Gap, 7 saddles
12 mi · ▲ 3,379 ft · 5 hr 41 min
Rocky Head–Sourwood Gap, 7 saddles is a 12-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. The route passes Buck Gap, Sourwood Gap, Rocky Head and Long Gap. It climbs 3,379 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rocky Head–Sourwood Gap, 7 saddles
12 mi · ▲ 3,379 ft · 5 hr 41 min
Elevation 2,655–4,002 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 35.62338, -82.27355
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Royal Gorge Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading N.
- 1.5 miSharp right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 250 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 200 ftBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Sourwood Gap.
- 0.5 miPass Rocky Head.
- 0.2 miPass Long Gap.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading NE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Graybeard Trail, heading N.
- 1 miBear right onto Harry Bryan Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miReach Rocky Head, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Graybeard Trail, heading SE.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading N.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Adventure Trail, heading SE.
- 1.5 miBear left onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading S.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Royal Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, 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 2.7 mi in (~100 min). Leave by 5:53 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lookout Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,457 ft
- Copperhead Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,503 ft
- Rattlesnake Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,593 ft
- Lookout Mountain–Rainbow Gap, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,966 ft
- Boggs Bunion–Sourwood Gap, 7 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 2,239 ft
- Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 4 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 2,128 ft
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Hikes near Ridgecrest, North Carolina