Thermal Belt Rail Trail
16 mi · ▲ 270 ft · 5 hr 28 min
Thermal Belt Rail Trail is a 16-mile out-and-back near Bakersville, NC. It climbs 270 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 2/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi968 – 1,093 ft16.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Thermal Belt Rail Trail 35.35198, -81.91104
Nearest town Bakersville, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Thermal Belt Rail Trail
16 mi · ▲ 270 ft · 5 hr 28 min
Elevation 967–1,093 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Thermal Belt Rail Trail · 35.35198, -81.91104
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:51 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Thermal Belt Rail Trail, heading W.
- 7.5 miContinue straight onto Mecca Drive, heading N.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Thermal Belt Rail Trail, heading N.
- 0.5 miReach Thermal Belt Rail Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mecca Drive, heading S.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Thermal Belt Rail Trail, heading S.
- 7.4 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
99% paved1% gravel
Weather
Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 7:17 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Get outside more
A wild hike near Bakersville, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Bakersville, North Carolina