Mount Pleasant & Cole Mountain Loop

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Well, readers, the summer wind has come and gone. The days grow short, and winter is coming!!! Before going into hibernation and closing the book on 2025, I had to get out for one last adventure.

The Mount Pleasant & Cole Mountain Loop is one of my absolute favorite hikes in Virginia. It’s not too difficult, offers some great views, and is only a 3-hour drive away. So when the forecast predicted a cold, but rainless weekend, I jumped at the opportunity.

Part 1: Quick Overview

Part 2: Trip Report

Day 1: November 1st, 2025 (Mount Pleasant Trailhead to Mount Pleasant Eastern Summit, 3.15 miles, 1,096 ft elevation gain)

The trees were bare, the air was crisp, and the squirrels were foraging for the winter. Welcome to late autumn in Virginia. I had arrived at the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area after a lovely 3+ hour morning drive. In my infinite wisdom, I assumed the normally busy parking area near the trailhead would be more sparse. Peak fall colors had all but vanished, and it was predicted to be a cold, blustery weekend.

Almost immediately, I knew that I had miscalculated. Hundreds of cars lined each side of the final 1.5 miles of the unmaintained Wiggins Spring “Road”. As I slowly drove down towards the parking area, people began to emerge from the treeline. They were trail runners. Each was in a colorful athletic outfit and had a paper with a number attached to them. The parking lot was full not only of vehicles, but tables, manned by even more people. I was barely able to turn around and find a spot along the road.

When I exited my vehicle and grabbed my pack, I found out it was the annual Mountain Masochist Trail Race. The MMTR, started in 1983, is. popular, East Coast ultramarathon that includes a 50-mile, 50k, and 100k racecourse that winds its way through the Blue Ridge Mountains. As people came to the aid station, the crowds cheered and rang bells. I was told to expect a lot of company on the trail, since the Mount Pleasant Loop was a part of the course.

It was a little after 13:00 when I walked through the wooden horse gate and stepped on the Henry Launam Trail. Both of the previous times I hiked here were in summer, and the landscape reflected that. Gone were the warm tones of the hardwood forest. Now, trees stood bare, their tendrils branching out pointy and gray, the ferns stood a sickly yellow, and the path, normally a rocky affair, was hidden by dead, dull leaves; the satisfying sound of their crunch filled the air with every step. After my Wonderland Trail thru-hike early in the year, with all its wildflowers, this was a stark difference, but not totally unwelcome.

I was hiking clockwise to get the climb out of the way early, and this was the opposite path of the race, so I would often have to step aside and let the runners pass by. With only 3 miles planned today, it ended up being less of a hike and more of a casual saunter. My pack was much lighter since I was only staying overnight. I ascended 700 ft in the first 2.5 miles before reaching the spur trail that led to Mount Pleasant’s summits. From here, the trail was a moderately graded 1-mile climb, and I managed to get myself to the summit by 15:00.

I quickly set up my tent in the site next to the eastern peak, and spent the rest of the day capturing photos and trying to stay warm. The autumn wind was fierce, and I had to put on all of my layers to keep comfortable. The east summit was a few steps from camp, so I started there. For the next hour or so, as I was taking photos with my camera, runners from the MMTR would come up to the summit and use a marker placed there to clip their number. I guess they had to tag the summit as a part of their race. I was asked to take a few photos for people, and I obliged. In the distant mountains and valleys, traces of fall color remained, albeit dwindling very quickly.

Because of the shorter days, golden hour started around 16:30, so when it arrived, I packed up my camera gear and walked to the western summit. It required a bit of a rock scramble, had less surface area to set things up on, but it provided a much more dramatic vista than the eastern summit. I set up shop and made dinner as I used my telephoto lens to capture some really cool shots of the mountain layers. From the western vantage point, the bald summit of Cole Mountain (aka where I will be tomorrow) could be seen.

As I ate my dinner, I realized that there was enough cell service to call my wife, so I video chatted with her for a few minutes and showed my son the view of the mountains. Having a small child is the best because they think everything you do is so cool!!! I wished them goodnight and crawled into the sleeping bag. I needed every ounce of down fill because it was frigid. The two times I left my tent that night to pee were not fun. I ended up camping alone at the eastern summit that night.

Day 2: June 7th, 2025 (Mount Pleasant Summit to Cowcamp Gap Shelter, 10 miles, 1,637 ft elevation gain)

After catching the sunrise on the eastern peak, I let the morning warm up a bit before heading out. It was only 3 miles to the car, so I took it slow. The western half of the Henry Lanum Memorial Trail was a beautiful descent through more forest. This side was a bit more colorful. Small splashes of reds, yellows, and even greens managed to fight against the cold to hang on just a little longer. The trail was much less crowded today, and I did not pass a single person in the morning. There were two small creek crossings, and around 10:00, I was back at the parking area.

It was like a ghost town; the throngs of people had all left: the racers, aidstation volunteers, and spectators. My vehicle was one of three that remained. Since I was halfway done and not spending another night, I dropped most of my heavy sleeping gear in the car. I replenished my water and snacks and took a short break before embarking on the Cole Mountain Loop, which might be my favorite hike in all of Virginia.

From my vehicle, it was a quick walk to the Old Hotel Trail. It’s been a few years since I was last here, but I remembered almost immediately why this oop is special. It begins in the green tunnel, but after rounding a bend, the pathway goes into a pine tunnel. The ground went from leafy to springy with countless pine needles blanketing the ground. The trail ascends sharply after this, and the forest gives way to open meadows and pristine campsites. I’m talking fire rings, log benches, and enough space for multiple large groups if necessary. Can you tell I really like this trail?’

I stopped to have lunch under a very large and distinct Oak. It was slightly warmer than yesterday, so I removed some layers, sat down, and ate some cooked pumpkin seeds.

The next section of the hike is by far the most difficult. The trail ascends 1,000 ft in a little less than 2 miles. At Cow Camp Gap, the Old Hotel Trail intersects with the famed Appalachian Trail. It was nice seeing the familiar white blazes again, and I veered on the AT northbound to finish the forested climb up to the bald summit of Cole Mountain.

At the end of the climb, the trees vanished and the terrain opened up into an expansive meadow across the summit. Dotted with boulders, flowers, and surrounded by views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this section is the crown jewel of the hike. I stopped at the boulder that contains the USGS marker and took a long break. From my vantage point, I could see the rock outcroppings on the western summit of Mount Pleasant where I was last night.

Cole Mountain’s unique bald summit is more reminiscent of the landscapes in southern Appalachia, like the Grayson Highlands or Roan Mountain. In the green tunnel of Virginia, wide open meadows like this one are a welcome sight. It was getting into the late afternoon when I moved beyond the initial meadow, following the trail through the grassland.

The wide pasture was incredibly beautiful even on a cold, drab fall day. One feature that was striking was a giant boulder with a lone tree standing beside it. The tree was covered in deep red berries that contrasted with the desolate landscape around it. I spent a lot of time on the bald just taking in the landscape, using Peakfinder to identify the nearby mountains. Despite the cold weather, it was quite busy on Cole Mountain. There was a group that hiked up a bounce house, and a couple taking their engagement photos.

When the sun was getting low, I figured it was time to go. I wanted to get through the gauntlet that was Wiggins Spring Road before it got too dark. The final mile of the loop switchbacked back into the woods and brought me down to the road, where the parking area was a short walk away.

Thus ending my 2025 hiking season.

Author’s Note: “Cole Mountain” and “Cold Mountain” are often used interchangeably by hikers, and sometimes on maps as well. Officially, the USGS refers to the mountain as Cole Mountain. I can’t find the origin of why it is also referred to as Cold Mountain, so if you know, please leave a comment or reach out.

Part 3: Miscellaneous Details

Logistics:

This loop is near my previous hike of the Three Ridges Loop. It is around 3.5 hours away from Washington, DC. If possible, use a high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle. Wiggins Spring Road, which takes you to the parking lot near the trailhead, is one of the more rugged gravel roads I’ve had the misfortune to drive on.

Closest Airports:

• Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO): This is the closest airport to the trailhead. It is approximately 74 miles; a 1 hour, 40-minute drive.
• Richmond International Airport (RIC): Approximately 144 miles; a 2-hour 35-minute drive.
• Dulles International Airport (IAD): Approximately 191 miles; a 3-hour, 8-minute drive.

Once you arrive at the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, you can pretty much customize the hike to your liking. Since I had experience hiking this before, I chose to do the Mount Pleasant half of the figure-8 first (stopping halfway to camp at its summit). Then on the second day, I would drop all my sleeping gear back at my vehicle, and then complete the Cole Mountain Loop in one day with a much lighter pack. In my opinion, the Cole Mountain Loop is the more scenic of the trails, so I would suggest saving it for last, and doing that one clockwise so you can save the bald of Cole Mountain for last.

Author’s Note: Fun fact that I just learned in my research on this hike. A National Scenic Area is actually one of the more unique federal designations in the country. The first NSA was designated in 1984, and since then, a total of ten have been created. The Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area was created in 1994. If you are interested in learning more about them, you can read an in-depth description here.

Camping/Permits/Fees:

These two loops offer some incredible camping options. The eastern and western summits of Mount Pleasant have plenty of good, flat areas, and you are a short walk away from unobstructed views of mountain layers and sunrises/sunsets. Along the Cole Mountain Loop, there is the three-sided Cowcamp Gap shelter and an open meadow that is my favorite backcountry campsite in Virginia.

Permits are not required to hike or camp along this route.

Author’s Note: Camping is not allowed on the balds of Cold Mountain.

Navigation:

Both the Henry Launam Trail and Old Hotel Trail are well-marked with blue blazes, and of course, the Appalachian Trail is marked with its classic white blazes. There are not a lot of intersecting trails, so you should not have an issue. The hardest thing about this hike is driving the 1.5 miles on the unmaintained section of the previously mentioned road to the trailhead.

Water:

The beauty of this hike is that if you plan it correctly, you won’t have to filter any water. I stored plenty of water in my vehicle and carried enough to last me the camping at Mount Pleasant’s summit. Then, the next day, I hiked back to my vehicle, refilled my water, and carried enough to last me the entirety of the Cole Mountain Loop.

There are a few water sources along each loop. The Mount Pleasant Loop had one water source before the summit trails. A sign that read Spring led to a steep, overgrown side path where a small stream was still flowing. There was also a stream flowing well on the western half of the loop.

Along the Cole Mountain Loop, the stream near Cowcamp Gap Shelter was still flowing.

Wildlife/Insect Pressure:

I have hiked this loop three separate times, including this one. My previous two treks were in the summer, and I don’t remember the bugs being terrible, but it is the Appalachian Trail in the mid-Atlantic, so expect flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. I remember finding a tick on me previously, before I used permethrin. One of the few benefits of hiking this in late autumn is that the insects are nonexistent.

I did not have wildlife encounters this time, but the only time I’ve ever seen a bear while hiking was on the Appalachian Trail near the Peak of Cole Mountain. It was years back, and it quickly scampered into the forest when I yelled at it.

Remoteness/Solitude:

Charlottesville is the closest major city, 1.5 hours away. There is only 1 road leading to the trailheads, so there are no bailout points along either of the loops. During the first day of my hike, there was a race going on with hundreds of competitors, so I did not have any solitude until I set up camp. Cole Mountain’s unique bald peak is a popular destination, and while I was there, I encountered a couple shooting their engagement photos, a group of hikers who brought an inflatable bounce house up there, and dozens of others.

I had cell reception (Verizon) during the entirety of my hike.

Hazards/Environmental Concerns:

The western summit of Mount Pleasant has a very minor rock scramble to get to it, but that is about it.

Difficulty:

I would compare this one to the Three Ridges Loop. They are geographically close to each other, have similar mileage, and both hikes have sections along the Appalachian Trail. Three Ridges has about 1,000 more feet of elevation gain, so this one is definitely easier. Honestly, this hike can be completed in one day if you want.

Last Word

These two loops pack a lot into 13 miles. Having hiked along the AT for several years now, I have experienced some of the best it has to offer. I’ve hiked along Franconia Ridge, seen the ponies at Grayson Highlands, and stood atop McAfee Knob. To me, the exposed section of the AT that crosses the exposed bald at Cole Mountain rivals any of that. I remember crossing it for the first time and being shocked that it existed in Virginia.

The Mount Pleasant & Cole Mountain Loop is a great, short hike, perfect for a beginner looking to test some gear, but even experienced hikers will find a lot to love. This is one that I will come back to again and again.

Thank you for reading. Check out my other adventures, HERE.