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Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail

Difficult Difficult
 4.2 (13)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …Central N. Carolina
  4. …Laurel Springs
  5. Doughton Recreation Area
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“A full-on slap in the face difficult climb in the heart of Doughton Park. If you like vert, you'll like this trail. ”

Brandon Thrower
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Map Key

2.8

Miles

4.5

KM

Point to Point

3,726' 1,136 m

High

1,565' 477 m

Low

2,264' 690 m

Up

102' 31 m

Down

16%

Avg Grade (9°)

41%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

This trail begins near the backcountry campsites on Grassy Gap Fire Road and quickly starts climbing up the Bluff Mountain Ridge to Alligator Back and the Mountains to Sea Trail (Bluff Mountain Trail). The climb gains over 2,000 ft in its short distance to the summit with little breaks. It is unrelenting and awesome!

Contacts

Land Manager: Blue Ridge Parkway

Shared By:

Brandon Thrower with improvements by Dwayne Lawson
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 13 votes

#2

in Doughton Recreation Area

#7324

Overall
  4.2 from 13 votes
5 Star
46%
4 Star
31%
3 Star
23%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#2

in Doughton Recreation Area

#240

in North Carolina

#7,324

Overall
12 Views Last Month
1,735 Since Jan 1, 2017
Difficult Difficult
0%
0%
0%
15%
77%
8%
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Photos

View from the shelter at the top of Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail. A welcome place to sit after an intense outing.
Sep 18, 2017 near Sparta, NC
Near the end of the climb up Bluff Primitive, you start going downhill.... but you still have one more ascent which can be seen here in the distance.
Feb 3, 2018 near Sparta, NC
Some of the alligator rocks
Aug 6, 2019 near Sparta, NC
View from Bluff Mountain
Aug 6, 2019 near Sparta, NC
Flowers at the peak
Aug 9, 2019 near Sparta, NC

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Jan 10, 2021
Chris Coffee
Snowed over the past few days. Hiked this to Bluff Mountain Trail to Grassy Gap Fire Road. 13.6mi — 5h 47m
Jul 25, 2020
Kyle Dowdall
Hiked in on the access road from the street to the campsites, then up Bluff Ridge. About 10 miles total. Access trail is easy, wide, and flat. Bluf… 10mi
Jun 22, 2019
Rene Gonzalez
12mi — 5h 00m
Oct 13, 2018
Brian Lusher
Aug 19, 2017
Kent Estep
2.8mi
Jun 12, 2017
Brett Burey
Did this hike up to the BRP, and also went over to Bluff Mountain. She is only 11 nd had a hard struggle up, but had a great time once we got to the t 6.5mi — 4h 30m

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