Sunset hikes near Horse Shoe, nc

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. High Rocks–Lake McCrady Loop, 6 sights 5.3 mi away

   Leave by 7:03 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:03 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:31 PM
   5. Dark8:20 PM

   Back at your car by 8:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.8 mi to the viewpoint · 400 ft climb · 52 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

2. Wolf Mountain–Lake McCrady, 8 sights 5.3 mi away

   Leave by 7:10 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:10 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:33 PM
   5. Dark8:20 PM

   Back at your car by 8:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.7 mi to the viewpoint · 250 ft climb · 48 min of walking

3. Craggy Rock Drive & Glen Horn Drive via Seven Falls Parkway 4.2 mi away

   Leave by 7:04 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:04 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:34 PM
   5. Dark8:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.0 mi to the viewpoint · 260 ft climb · 55 min of walking

4. Gore Lake–Big Falls Drive, 4 sights 4.2 mi away

   Leave by 6:55 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:55 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:45 PM
   5. Dark8:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.3 mi to the viewpoint · 250 ft climb · 75 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

5. Stone Mountain–Stone Mountain Viewpoint, 4 sights 8.4 mi away

   Leave by 7:20 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:20 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:23 PM
   5. Dark8:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.5 mi to the viewpoint · 50 ft climb · 28 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

6. Farmhouse Trail–Rocky Ridge Trail, 3 sights 8.6 mi away

   Leave by 7:32 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:32 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:12 PM
   5. Dark8:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:12 PM — 9 min before dark.

   0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 4 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

7. Lake Imaging–Hickory Mountain Road, 5 sights 8.6 mi away

   Leave by 5:35 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:35 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car9:49 PM
   5. Dark8:21 PM

   Back at your car by 9:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.8 mi to the viewpoint · 880 ft climb · 218 min of walking

8. Plantation Trail 9.1 mi away

   Leave by 7:30 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:30 PM
   2. Sunset7:55 PM
   3. Head back8:10 PM
   4. At your car8:15 PM
   5. Dark8:21 PM

   Back at your car by 8:15 PM — 6 min before dark.

   0.2 mi to the viewpoint · 10 min of walkingTrailhead visible from the viewpoint

9. Rich Mountain 9.3 mi away

   Leave by 7:29 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:29 PM
   2. Sunset7:54 PM
   3. Head back8:09 PM
   4. At your car8:12 PM
   5. Dark8:20 PM

   Back at your car by 8:12 PM — 8 min before dark.

   0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 70 ft climb · 8 min of walking

10. Mills River Valley Overlook (MP 404.5)–Big Ridge Overlook (MP 403.6), 6 viewpoints 9.7 mi away

    Leave by 3:50 PM

    1. Leave trailhead3:50 PM
    2. Sunset7:55 PM
    3. Head back8:10 PM
    4. At your car11:28 PM
    5. Dark8:21 PM

    Back at your car by 11:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    6.9 mi to the viewpoint · 1930 ft climb · 424 min of walking

11. Hooker Falls–Lake Imaging, 7 sights 8.6 mi away

    Leave by 7:19 PM

    1. Leave trailhead7:19 PM
    2. Sunset7:55 PM
    3. Head back8:10 PM
    4. At your car8:28 PM
    5. Dark8:21 PM

    Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 34 min of walking

12. Isaac Heath Trail–Jim Branch Trail, 4 sights 8.6 mi away

    Leave by 7:19 PM

    1. Leave trailhead7:19 PM
    2. Sunset7:55 PM
    3. Head back8:10 PM
    4. At your car8:28 PM
    5. Dark8:21 PM

    Back at your car by 8:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 34 min of walking