I may have questioned by sanity when I decided to hike Hawksbill Mountain that cold, snowy, early morning in January. Once my small group of 3 plus my pup Winston reached the summit, all doubts were cast aside and the strenuous hike was completely worth it.
Hawksbill Mountain is 75 miles northeast of Asheville and an hour drive north of Lake James in Burke County.
It is not a difficult drive, and the last bit of unpaved Pisgah National Forest Service Road is well marked. The trailhead is easy to locate, and the hike begins nice and easy.
Things soon change and the trail becomes progressively steeper and rockier. As an added bonus (depending on the time of year!), the trail is almost completely in the shade and in the dead of winter this meant snowy, icy, and cold conditions. I was not well prepared in my hiking boots and Winston (our dog) seemed to be the only one surefooted!
I imagine in the summertime the shade is a welcome relief and the slick conditions dissipate as the ground warms. After hiking over a mile and an elevation gain of 700 feet (and shedding some warm clothes), you reach the 4,009-foot summit.
There is a large boulder that is a perfect spot for catching your breath and enjoying a picnic while admiring the 360-degree panoramic views. You can explore all around the summit and catch spectacular views of Pisgah National Forest and the Linville Gorge Wilderness.
Grandfather Mountain can be seen to the north and Mount Mitchell to the southwest. Table Rock Mountain sits adjacent to Hawksbill and just past Table Rock is Shortoff Mountain and Lake James.
Needless to say, the views will not disappoint. We even spotted a bald eagle flying around! I foresee a fall foliage hike at Hawksbill Mountain in my future.
Rachel Stark is a multimillion-dollar top producing real estate professional & REALTOR, who is known for her high standards of professionalism and dedication to client satisfaction. Rachel has an extensive market knowledge of the Lake James, Marion and Morganton areas. Call Rachel Stark at (828) 329-3552 for a free consultation, if you are interested in buying or selling real estate near Lake James, NC.