Sunset hikes

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. Woods Mountain–Betsy Ridge Road, 3 sights 2.8 mi away

   Leave by 4:52 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:52 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car9:44 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 9:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   4.0 mi to the viewpoint · 2070 ft climb · 257 min of walking

2. Mount Mitchell–Picnic, 5 sights 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 4:34 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:34 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car9:36 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.7 mi to the viewpoint · 2960 ft climb · 268 min of walking

3. Maple Camp Bald–Deep Gap, 5 sights 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 4:33 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:33 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car9:36 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 9:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.7 mi to the viewpoint · 2980 ft climb · 268 min of walking

4. Ogle Rock–Deep Gap, 4 sights 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 4:36 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:36 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car9:34 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 9:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.6 mi to the viewpoint · 2940 ft climb · 263 min of walking

5. Deep Gap–Black Mountain Crest, 3 sights 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 6:15 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:15 PM
   2. Sunset7:53 PM
   3. Head back8:08 PM
   4. At your car8:52 PM
   5. Dark8:19 PM

   Back at your car by 8:52 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.8 mi to the viewpoint · 1120 ft climb · 122 min of walking

6. Horse Rock & Colbert Ridge Trail via Black Mountain Crest Trail 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 4:26 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:26 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car9:38 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 9:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.8 mi to the viewpoint · 3140 ft climb · 278 min of walking

7. Picnic–Deep Gap, 5 sights 5.4 mi away

   Leave by 4:32 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:32 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car9:37 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 9:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   3.7 mi to the viewpoint · 2990 ft climb · 270 min of walking

8. Woodys Knob & Firetower Road 5.7 mi away

   Leave by 7:11 PM

   1. Leave trailhead7:11 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car8:21 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.6 mi to the viewpoint · 260 ft climb · 35 min of walking

9. Big Tom Gap Trail via Mount Mitchell Trail 6.9 mi away

   Leave by 3:34 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:34 PM
   2. Sunset7:52 PM
   3. Head back8:07 PM
   4. At your car10:39 PM
   5. Dark8:18 PM

   Back at your car by 10:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   6.1 mi to the viewpoint · 3040 ft climb · 390 min of walking

10. Commissary Hill–Balsam Nature Trail, 3 sights 6.9 mi away

    Leave by 7:32 PM

    1. Leave trailhead7:32 PM
    2. Sunset7:53 PM
    3. Head back8:08 PM
    4. At your car8:09 PM
    5. Dark8:19 PM

    Back at your car by 8:09 PM — 10 min before dark.

    0.0 mi to the viewpoint · 2 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

11. Black Mountain Crest 8.5 mi away

    Leave by 6:13 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:13 PM
    2. Sunset7:53 PM
    3. Head back8:08 PM
    4. At your car8:54 PM
    5. Dark8:19 PM

    Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    1.9 mi to the viewpoint · 1150 ft climb · 126 min of walking

12. Deep Gap Road 8.9 mi away

    Leave by 6:18 PM

    1. Leave trailhead6:18 PM
    2. Sunset7:53 PM
    3. Head back8:08 PM
    4. At your car8:45 PM
    5. Dark8:19 PM

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

    1.5 mi to the viewpoint · 1230 ft climb · 112 min of walking