Near Woody Ridge Trail (177)
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.
Near Woody Ridge Trail (177)
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
Near Woody Ridge Trail (177)
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
Near Woody Ridge Trail (177)
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)
Near Woody Ridge Trail (177)
Pictures do not do justice of how steep Woody is.

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Hike Trail

Woody Ridge Trail (177)

4.8 (31 Ratings)
The shortest, steepest climb in NC - 3,100 ft of climb in 2.5 miles.
2.5
mi
Distance
3,013
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
Fall ColorsSpringViewsWildflowersWildlife

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Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
2.52mi
Distance
3,013ft
Elevation Gain
30ft
Elevation Loss
45%
Max Grade
6,159ft
High Point
3,163ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
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.

Route Conditions

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Anonymous Adventurer
All Clear
Trail in great shape
April 30, 2025
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Contributors
Brandon Thrower