Rocky Knob

Rocky Knob–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles

16 mi · ▲ 3,749 ft · 7 hr 12 min

Rocky Knob–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles is a 16-mile out-and-back in Rocky Knob near Coleman, NC. The route passes Long Gap and Pots Cove Gap before reaching Rocky Knob at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 3,749 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,215 – 5,263 ft · steepest grade: 40%16.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mill Creek Road 35.63922, -82.25778
Nearest town Coleman, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Rocky Knob–Pots Cove Gap, 5 saddles

16 mi · ▲ 3,749 ft · 7 hr 12 min

Elevation 2,216–5,261 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Knob

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

  1. Start on Mill Creek Road, heading N.
  2. 50 ftBear left onto Parris Creek Trail, heading N.
  3. 2.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
  4. 1.2 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftPass Long Gap.
  7. 0.7 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
  8. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
  10. 3.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rocky Knob Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miReach Rocky Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 0.3 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
  14. 3.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
  16. 0.8 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SW.
  17. 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
  18. 1.2 miTurn right onto Parris Creek Trail, heading E.
  19. 2.4 miBear right onto Mill Creek Road, heading SE.
  20. 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

13% dirt87% unspecified

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 90°F73°
Precip21%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity73%
Rained 0.2″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°70° 12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 4% rain2 PM: 12% rain3 PM: 20% rain4 PM: 21% rain5 PM: 20% rain6 PM: 11% rain7 PM: 5% rain8 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 7:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sat 89°72°
Sun 86°68° 68%
Mon 73°65° 56%
Tue 77°60°
Wed 86°62°
Thu 87°68°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 8.0 mi in (~289 min). Leave by 2:45 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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