Middle Prong Wilderness

Silvermine Bald–Split Falls, 6 sights

15.1 mi · ▲ 3,226 ft · 6 hr 39 min

Silvermine Bald–Split Falls, 6 sights is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Middle Prong Wilderness near Balsam Grove, NC. The route passes Split Falls and Silvermine Bald. It climbs 3,226 ft, with sections as steep as 43% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 41/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi4,485 – 5,942 ft · steepest grade: 43%15.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 35.30805, -82.90919
Nearest town Balsam Grove, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Silvermine Bald–Split Falls, 6 sights

15.1 mi · ▲ 3,226 ft · 6 hr 39 min

Elevation 4,485–5,943 ft

Out & Back · Middle Prong Wilderness

Trailhead: 35.30805, -82.90919

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 74°F / low 61° · precip 21% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 200 ftPass Split Falls.
  3. 2.6 miSharp right onto Little Sam Trail, heading SW.
  4. 1.2 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.9 miPass Silvermine Bald.
  6. 150 ftTurn right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading E.
  7. 2.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  8. 250 ftTurn right onto Deep Gap Road, heading S.
  9. 450 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading S.
  10. 250 ftBear left onto Pilot Mountain Road, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miReach Silvermine Bald, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miBear right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
  13. 300 ftContinue straight onto Deep Gap Road, heading NW.
  14. 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
  15. 250 ftTurn right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading N.
  16. 2.5 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.9 miTurn right onto Little Sam Trail, heading S.
  18. 1.2 miSharp left onto Flat Laurel Creek Trail, heading E.
  19. 2.6 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

79% dirt21% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 74°F61°
Precip21%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity80%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
75°60° 12 PM: 2% rain1 PM: 2% rain2 PM: 12% rain3 PM: 20% rain4 PM: 21% rain5 PM: 19% rain6 PM: 15% rain7 PM: 14% rain8 PM: 6% rain9 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 7:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat 77°61° 19%
Sun 75°58° 55%
Mon 63°57° 35%
Tue 69°52°
Wed 76°53°
Thu 80°56°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.0 mi in (~211 min). Leave by 4:05 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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