Big Slaty–Rocky Head, 8 saddles
14.1 mi · ▲ 3,811 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Big Slaty–Rocky Head, 8 saddles is a 14.1-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. The route passes Buck Gap, Sourwood Gap, Rocky Head and 2 more before reaching Big Slaty at the turnaround, 7.1 miles in. It climbs 3,811 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Big Slaty–Rocky Head, 8 saddles
14.1 mi · ▲ 3,811 ft · 6 hr 36 min
Elevation 2,782–5,253 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Royal Gorge Trail · 35.62581, -82.27216
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 90°F / low 68° · precip 15% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Royal Gorge Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading N.
- 1.5 miSharp right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.4 miPass Sourwood Gap.
- 0.5 miPass Rocky Head.
- 0.2 miPass Long Gap.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading NE.
- 0.7 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
- 100 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Graybeard Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miReach Big Slaty, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SW.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Adventure Trail, heading SE.
- 1.5 miBear left onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading S.
- 0.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.1 mi in (~247 min). Leave by 3:27 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:24 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Royal Gorge Trail Trailhead
- Boggs Bunion–Adventure Trail, 4 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,149 ft
- Sourwood Gap–Buck Gap, 4 saddles 7.3 mi · ▲ 2,226 ft
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Hikes near Ridgecrest, North Carolina