High Windy & Carolina Loop
5.9 mi · ▲ 1,625 ft · 2 hr 47 min
High Windy & Carolina Loop is a 5.9-mile out-and-back near Grovestone, NC. The route reaches High Windy at the turnaround, 3 miles in. It climbs 1,625 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 63/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
High Windy & Carolina Loop
5.9 mi · ▲ 1,625 ft · 2 hr 47 min
Elevation 2,702–4,351 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Weatherford Trail · 35.58915, -82.33649
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 90°F / low 68° · precip 29% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 685 m from the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Carolina Loop, heading S.
- 1.8 miSharp left onto High Windy, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.5 miReach High Windy, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp right onto Carolina Loop, heading NE.
- 1.8 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 2.0 mi in (~88 min). Leave by 6:06 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 685 m from the trailhead
More from Weatherford Trail Trailhead
- Carolina Loop 3.2 mi · ▲ 1,059 ft
- Carolina Loop 3.2 mi · ▲ 1,038 ft
- High Windy via Carolina Loop 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,422 ft
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Hikes near Grovestone, North Carolina