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dblack Woody Ridge Trail (177)

  5.0 ( 10 )
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. Pisgah National Forest
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Trail

2.4 mile 3.9 kilometer point to point
45% Runnable
Extremely Difficult

Elevation

Ascent: 2,973' 906 m
Descent: -11' -3 m
High: 6,152' 1,875 m
Low: 3,178' 969 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 23% (13°)
Max Grade: 69% (35°)

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Trail shared by Brandon Thrower

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All Clear 10 days ago See History
Dry - Came down this way after scrambling up the Left Wishbone

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“The shortest, steepest climb in NC - 3,100 ft of climb in 2.5 miles.”

— Brandon Thrower
GPX File

Features Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Runner Notes

Tough as nails!

Description

Woody Ridge Trail is the toughest climb in NC. It is unrelenting, technical, and down right AWESOME! Good views can be had from a couple of overlooks. The trail is blazed in yellow. The trailhead is off White Oak Creek Rd near Burnsville, NC. The trail ends at its junction with the Black Mountain Crest Trail near Horse Rock on top of a small bald.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District

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Mar 31, 2018
Chris Woodrow
When in doubt, pick the hardest option and you’ll stay on the trail 2.5mi
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Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 10 votes

#1

in Pisgah National Forest

#113

Overall
  5.0 from 10 votes
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
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1 Star
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Rankings

#1

in Pisgah National Forest

#8

in North Carolina

#113

Overall
142 Views Last Month
4,244 Since Dec 9, 2016
Extremely Difficult Extremely Difficult
0%
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22%
78%
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Photos

Sun rising over the cloud encased South Toe River Valley as the wind begins to whip up the just moments before still clouds as seen from Sunrise Point along the Woody Ridge Trail
Sun rising over the cloud encased South Toe Riv…
 8
Autumn leaves blowing in the foreground along Woody Ridge Trail after a pre-dawn hike up to catch the sunrise. The cloud encased South Toe River Valley where the trail begins is below in the forefront. 10/15/17
Autumn leaves blowing in the foreground along W…
 6
Pre-dawn sky looking east from Woody Ridge Trail with the moon and Venus (barely visible in the middle) in the sky and the South Toe River Valley below covered in early morning low cloud cover. (10/15/17)
Pre-dawn sky looking east from Woody Ridge Trai…
 4
Pictures do not do justice of how steep Woody is.
Pictures do not do justice of how steep Woody is.
 3
Sitting on a prominent overlook along Woody Ridge Trail after a pre-dawn hike to catch the sunrise. Warmer morning temps. gave way to chilly howling winds up top. 10/15/17
Sitting on a prominent overlook along Woody Rid…
 3
Trying to capture the uphill climb of this trail but it's impossible. I'll just say that my heels rarely hit the ground because the climb is so vertical!
Trying to capture the uphill climb of this trai…
 3

3 Comments

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Shelly Bryll
Shelly Bryll  
Tried hiking this trail August 11, 2017. Did not see yellow blazes any where. I hiked this trail twice last year with no problem but for some reason , not sure if it is overgrown, but all trails I followed ended to dead ending in the middle of the woods from overgrowth. Really was looking forward to this hike but just could not find the full trail. Aug 14, 2017
Shelly Bryll
Shelly Bryll  
There are two trail parking areas off " White Creek Rd ". Because this site mentioned "The trailhead is off White Oak Creek Rd near Burnsville, NC. " I followed White Creek Rd and then on White Oak Creed road (over small bridge) followed to the end. This was NOT the Woodys Ridge trail head parking area. Turn on Shufford CRK at the end is correct trail head. Trail is yellow blazed and nice. Aug 18, 2017
Rush Austin
Rush Austin  
I live in Burnsville and frequently climb this unrelenting monster. The grade in some places demands all fours. The trail head is NOT on White Oak Creek Road. The trail head is at the end of Shuford Creek Rd which you reach from White Oak Creek Rd. The trail is clearly blazed with yellow plastic triangles. This is by far the steepest grade I've ever encountered. A "fun" run is to climb Woody Ridge, turn North on the Black Mountain Crest trail at the intersection, traverse over to Bolens Creek. Descend Bolens creek (4 miles, dropping some 3000' ele). Turn around at the bottom and head back up, over, and back down Woody for about 14 miles round trip with some 6000' up and 6000' down. Mar 10, 2018

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