Plan with
Confidence
If accessing this trail from the Bald Knob Cross trailhead, the gates lock at dusk. You might have to park outside the gate and rxh up to the trailhead.
Path Type
Loop
This trail has two trailheads, both readily accessible. The northern one at the Bald Knob Cross has some facilities (porta-john, parking, gift shop for the Cross, etc.), but the southern one just has the parking area. Bald Knob Cross closes its gate at dusk, so you may have to park outside it and hike up the road to the north trailhead.
The trail itself is a fairly easy hike. There's a bit of a descent/ascent and it can be a bit slippery/muddy if you're coming when it's wet out (after/during a rain), but overall this trail is a nice, steady hike along a fairly well cut trail.
If you're going counter-clockwise (my usual direction), you'll come to the split for a "Hidden Cross Trail" a little ways down the trail, heading to the west. Ignore this and keep going south. You'll find the sign for the split to the east side of the loop/the trailhead at Rhine Road easily, as it's well marked and obvious. Just follow that trail around and back up north.
For most of the north-bound leg, you'll be going along a ridgeline, allowing you a nice view of... trees, honestly. If you're going during late fall/winter/early spring, you'll have a better view with the leaves off the trees. But it DOES make for an easy hike, with a gradual incline upwards.
Be aware that while this is a fairly well-cut trail, it does have some downed trees here and there that you'll have to go around and/or clamber over. These aren't terrible barriers, though.
All in all, it's a nice little hike that'll take up a little chunk of an afternoon! Have some fun with it!
Closed
Looking for more condition reports?
Contributors