Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 4 sights
6.2 mi · ▲ 2,128 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 4 sights is a 6.2-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. The route reaches Crestridge Lake at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 2,128 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 4 sights
6.2 mi · ▲ 2,128 ft · 3 hr 8 min
Elevation 2,655–3,790 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 35.62338, -82.27355
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:53 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Royal Gorge Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading S.
- 200 ftBear left onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Lake Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftReach Crestridge Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NW.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading SE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Royal Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 300 ftArrive 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 2.3 mi in (~91 min). Leave by 6:01 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Lookout Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,457 ft
- Copperhead Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,503 ft
- Rattlesnake Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,593 ft
- Lookout Mountain–Rainbow Gap, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,966 ft
- Boggs Bunion–Sourwood Gap, 7 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 2,239 ft
- Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits 6.8 mi · ▲ 2,013 ft
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