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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start on Mill Creek Road, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Parris Creek Trail, heading N.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Long Gap.
- 0.7 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 3.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Rocky Knob Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miReach Rocky Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 3.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Parris Creek Trail, heading E.
- 2.4 miBear right onto Mill Creek Road, heading SE.
- 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 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.
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
- Rattlesnake Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits 11.6 mi · ▲ 3,420 ft
- Shelter View–Buck Gap, 5 saddles 14.3 mi · ▲ 3,514 ft
- Graybeard Mountain–Big Slaty, 7 summits 15 mi · ▲ 3,907 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Coleman, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Coleman, North Carolina