Near Bluff Mountain Trail
View from the shelter at the top of Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail. A welcome place to sit after an intense outing.
Near Bluff Mountain Trail
Clouds hang low in the valley along Alligator Back on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Near Bluff Mountain Trail
Trailhead parking
Near Bluff Mountain Trail
View from Bluff Mountain
Near Bluff Mountain Trail
Some of the alligator rocks

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Hike Trail

Bluff Mountain Trail

4.7 (6 Ratings)
An easy, scenic, crazy nice stretch of singletrack with tons of good views along the edge of Doughton Park.
6.9
mi
Distance
1,027
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Fall ColorsViewsWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
6.88mi
Distance
1,027ft
Elevation Gain
822ft
Elevation Loss
40%
Max Grade
3,792ft
High Point
3,186ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
The Bluff Mountain Trail is a 7-ish mile segment of the Mountain to Sea Trail in Doughton Park along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the easiest trail in Doughton Park and the one with the most views. The only really challenging section is the short switchback ascent up the Alligators Back, but it's still pretty tame compared to the rest of the trails in the park that descend the entire mountain. Use this trail to link up the other trails and get some solid mountain hiking in at this gem of a park.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
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Nearby Hike Routes

Alligator Rocks to Bluff Mountain

Hike Route

Alligator Rocks to Bluff Mountain

Dogs Allowed
moderate
0.94 mi
+365 ft
Doughton Recreation Area Loop

Hike Route

Doughton Recreation Area Loop

Views
moderate
15.9 mi
+3,411 ft
Widows Creek/MST Trail

Hike Route

Widows Creek/MST Trail

Fall Colors
strenuous
11.81 mi
+3,046 ft
Stone Mountain Loop Trail

Hike Route

Stone Mountain Loop Trail

Birding
strenuous
4.33 mi
+989 ft
Wolf Rock to Stone Mountain Falls

Hike Route

Wolf Rock to Stone Mountain Falls

Birding
moderate
6.47 mi
+1,284 ft
Isaacs Trailhead to Grassy Creek/Carter Falls

Hike Route

Isaacs Trailhead to Grassy Creek/Carter Falls

Fall Colors
moderate
6.48 mi
+614 ft
Contributors
Brandon Thrower