AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Max Patch Short Sunset Point & Walnut Mountain Trail via Appalachian Trail

16 mi · ▲ 3,051 ft · 6 hr 52 min

Max Patch Short Sunset Point & Walnut Mountain Trail via Appalachian Trail is a 16-mile out-and-back near Boomer, TN. The route reaches Max Patch Short Sunset Point at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 3,051 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi3,133 – 4,406 ft · steepest grade: 17%16.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Walnut Mountain Trail 35.84016, -82.95349
Nearest town Boomer, TN
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Max Patch Short Sunset Point & Walnut Mountain Trail via Appalachian Trail

16 mi · ▲ 3,051 ft · 6 hr 52 min

Elevation 3,133–4,405 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Walnut Mountain Trail · 35.84016, -82.95349

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 82°F / low 69° · precip 11% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:57 PM

  1. Start on Walnut Mountain Trail, heading NE.
  2. 2.1 miSharp right onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
  3. 5.2 miContinue straight onto Buckeye Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading S.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buckeye Ridge Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miBear left onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
  8. 50 ftReach Max Patch Short Sunset Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miSharp left onto Buckeye Ridge Trail, heading E.
  11. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buckeye Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail, heading NE.
  14. 5.2 miSharp left onto Walnut Mountain Trail, heading NE.
  15. 1.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/walnut-mountain-max-patch-short-sunset-point-out-back-3-summits

Weather

OvercastTemperature 82°F69°
Precip11%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity65%
Hourly temperature
85°65°
Sunrise 7:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:57 PM
Sat 84°69° 26%
Sun 78°65° 32%
Mon 74°61°
Tue 81°57°
Wed 81°60°
Thu 83°63° 23%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 7:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

More from Walnut Mountain Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Boomer, Tennessee