Rattlesnake Trail–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights
6.4 mi · ▲ 2,177 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Rattlesnake Trail–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights is a 6.4-mile out-and-back near Ridgecrest, NC. It climbs 2,177 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 24/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Rattlesnake Trail–Rhododendron Ridge Trail, 3 sights
6.4 mi · ▲ 2,177 ft · 3 hr 13 min
Elevation 2,682–3,790 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Nature Trail · 35.62553, -82.27700
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 88°F / low 66° · precip 25% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Nature Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 150 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NW.
- 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 E.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Royal Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftReach Rattlesnake Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear left onto Copperhead Mountain Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Rattlesnake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Lake Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Mount Mitchell Road, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Nature Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 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 1.0 mi in (~44 min). Leave by 6:50 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Nature Trail Trailhead
- Rattlesnake Mountain via Rattlesnake Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 862 ft
- Lookout Mountain–Lookout Trail, 3 sights 4 mi · ▲ 1,811 ft
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