Middle Wilson Ridge

Dogs Unknown

This trail begins at a gate on Route 90 and continues along a dominant ridge before merging with Loose Mtn. Road - FSR 4097.

The segment outlined here is a portion of the complete Wilson Ridge Trail (TR 269), which totals nearly 12 miles including some roads. While this trail is rated advanced overall, a long section is a dirt road. The road section begins at about .5 mi. and continues for over 2 miles, ending after a long descent down Joe White Mtn.

Route finding can be difficult on Middle Wilson Ridge and there are plenty of other interesting experiences out there. But it does offer some remote backcountry hiking in the Pisgah Grandfather District. Much this corridor crosses private land. There is zero signage, no blazes, plenty of no trespassing signs, and loads of intersections with unnamed spur trails and roads. You'll notice signs of some off-the-grid inhabitants that own land along this stretch, including The Kings, which even have a mailbox near an important turn. This spot is a left (2.79 mi. in this description) which goes straight up the mountain. This leafy, ditched-out climb is short up to the pronounced ridge.

After the the 2 miles of road there is nearly 2.5 miles of singletrack that follows the pronounced spine of Wilson Ridge until the trail merges with Loose Mtn. Road - FSR 4097. There are a few steeper and rugged parts on this section, and some of the descents to the gaps can get burly. Due to its remoteness this section is often overgrown with trees blown down in some areas.