Trail Run Project Logo

Woody Ridge Trail (177)

Very Difficult
 4.9 (29)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. Pisgah National Forest
Previous Next

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

Brandon Thrower
Your Rating:      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add to Favorites · Your List
Google Map
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

2.4

Miles

3.9

KM

45%

Runnable

6,152' 1,875 m

High

3,178' 969 m

Low

2,973' 906 m

Up

11' 3 m

Down

23%

Avg Grade (13°)

69%

Max Grade (35°)

Dogs Leashed

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

Shared By:

Brandon Thrower
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.9 from 29 votes

#1

in Pisgah National Forest

#84

Overall
  4.9 from 29 votes
5 Star
86%
4 Star
14%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Pisgah National Forest

#5

in North Carolina

#84

Overall
82 Views Last Month
8,869 Since Dec 9, 2016
Very Difficult
0%
0%
0%
0%
34%
66%
Add a Photo

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
Oct 17, 2017 near Burnsville, NC
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
Oct 17, 2017 near Burnsville, NC
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)
Oct 16, 2017 near Burnsville, NC
Pictures do not do justice of how steep Woody is.
Feb 8, 2019 near Burnsville, NC
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
Oct 16, 2017 near Burnsville, NC
This is the meadow at the top. And this is Bodhi. He is not our dog; he was a dog from the neighborhood who led us up the trail. At one point he surprised us at the other end of a crawl through space.
Oct 10, 2017 near Burnsville, NC

4 Comments

Sort by: Oldest
Newest Oldest Popular

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Update Conditions
Unknown See History
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 29, 2019
Joseph Anderson
Hard run up, slow moving back down. Technical terrain with all the rocks and roots 2.4mi — 1h 05m
Oct 28, 2019
Joseph Anderson
2.4mi — 1h 05m
Jul 6, 2019
Adam Miller
Gonna scramble up!
Mar 31, 2018
Chris Woodrow
When in doubt, pick the hardest option and you’ll stay on the trail 2.5mi

Nearby Recommended Routes