Brushy Ridge Falls–Brushy Ridge Trail, 5 sights
11.6 mi · ▲ 3,774 ft · 5 hr 45 min
Brushy Ridge Falls–Brushy Ridge Trail, 5 sights is an 11.6-mile out-and-back in Linville Gorge Wilderness near Wisemans View, NC. The route reaches Brushy Ridge Falls. It climbs 3,774 ft, with sections as steep as 44% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Brushy Ridge Falls–Brushy Ridge Trail, 5 sights
11.6 mi · ▲ 3,774 ft · 5 hr 45 min
Elevation 2,855–3,935 ft
Out & Back · Linville Gorge Wilderness
Trailhead: Cabin Trail · 35.92770, -81.92543
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 81°F / low 65° · precip 20% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Cabin Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Brushy Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftPass Brushy Ridge Falls.
- 1.1 miBear left onto Red North, heading NE.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Long Arm, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Gulf Ridge, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Gulf Contour, heading W.
- 1.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 350 ftSharp left onto Linville Falls Road, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Linville Falls Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miReach Brushy Ridge Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Linville Falls Road, heading N.
- 350 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Gulf Contour, heading N.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Gulf Ridge, heading SW.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Long Arm, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Red North, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Brushy Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Linville Gorge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Cabin Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 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 2.9 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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