Rattlesnake Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 1,593 ft · 2 hr 24 min
Rattlesnake Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. The route reaches Rattlesnake Mountain at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 1,593 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 27/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Mountain–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 1,593 ft · 2 hr 24 min
Elevation 2,655–3,790 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 35.62338, -82.27355
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 89°F / low 66° · precip 25% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 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.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Rattlesnake Mountain Trail, heading SW.
- 400 ftReach Rattlesnake Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 400 ftBear right onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading SE.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Royal Gorge Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 350 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 (~89 min). Leave by 6:05 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:10 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
- Lookout Mountain–Rainbow Gap, 4 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,966 ft
- Boggs Bunion–Sourwood Gap, 7 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 2,239 ft
- Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 4 sights 6.2 mi · ▲ 2,128 ft
- Copperhead Mountain–Lookout Mountain, 4 summits 6.8 mi · ▲ 2,013 ft
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