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Woody Ridge Trail (177)

Very Difficult Very Difficult
 4.8 (32)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. Pisgah National Forest
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“The shortest, steepest climb in NC - 3,100 ft of climb in 2.5 miles. ”

Brandon Thrower
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2.4

Miles

3.9

KM

Point to Point

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

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

  4.8 from 32 votes

#1

in Pisgah National Forest

#76

Overall
  4.8 from 32 votes
5 Star
84%
4 Star
16%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Pisgah National Forest

#5

in North Carolina

#76

Overall
31 Views Last Month
9,002 Since Dec 9, 2016
Very Difficult Very Difficult
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41%
59%
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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
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
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
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
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
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!
Oct 10, 2017 near Burnsville, NC

1 Comment

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 40 days ago
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Check-Ins

Aug 22, 2026
Teresa Bieber-Rehsi
5h 30m
Apr 19, 2021
Mikaela Rae
My husband and I did this hike with our pup. It was PERFECT weather!! The hike was HARD & steep...wear the right shoes and prepare for shaky legs o…
May 24, 2020
Amanda Chase
If you're not going straight up then you went the wrong
Nov 28, 2019
Michael Tubbs
2h 30m
Oct 18, 2019
Daniel daniel.ryan.paulsen@gmail.com
Aug 4, 2019
Tim Welsh
Jul 4, 2019
Phil York
Clean cut trail. A lot of fun! Relentless and steep, but does not deserve the double black diamonds. Chimbric from Table Rock is way more committing. 2.5mi — 1h 40m
Jun 16, 2019
Moritz Kathe

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