AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Thermal Belt Rail Trail

9.3 mi · ▲ 189 ft · 3 hr 12 min

Thermal Belt Rail Trail is a 9.3-mile out-and-back near Ruth, NC. It is mostly level, with 189 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi968 – 1,089 ft9.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Thermal Belt Rail Trail 35.38247, -81.94741
Nearest town Ruth, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Thermal Belt Rail Trail

9.3 mi · ▲ 189 ft · 3 hr 12 min

Elevation 967–1,089 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Thermal Belt Rail Trail · 35.38247, -81.94741

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:52 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 100 ftContinue straight onto Thermal Belt Rail Trail, heading N.
  3. 4.2 miContinue straight onto Mecca Drive, heading N.
  4. 250 ftContinue straight onto Thermal Belt Rail Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.5 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  6. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mecca Drive, heading S.
  7. 250 ftContinue straight onto Thermal Belt Rail Trail, heading S.
  8. 4.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/thermal-belt-rail-trail-out-back-15-km

Trail surface

99% paved1% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 7:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~62 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Ruth, North Carolina