Windling Stair Knob & Lettered Rock via Steels Creek Trail

14 mi · ▲ 3,093 ft · 6 hr 13 min

Windling Stair Knob & Lettered Rock via Steels Creek Trail is a 14-mile out-and-back near Wisemans View, NC. The route reaches Windling Stair Knob at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 3,093 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,978 – 3,429 ft · steepest grade: 30%14.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Devil's Hole Trail 35.92264, -81.88677
Nearest town Wisemans View, NC

Directions

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Windling Stair Knob & Lettered Rock via Steels Creek Trail

14 mi · ▲ 3,093 ft · 6 hr 13 min

Elevation 1,979–3,427 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Devil's Hole Trail · 35.92264, -81.88677

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 82°F / low 68° · precip 19% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:03 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 1 miBear left onto Lettered Rock, heading E.
  3. 2.2 miTurn left onto Steels Creek Trail, heading N.
  4. 1.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  6. 0.9 miBear right, heading NW.
  7. 0.7 miSharp right, heading NW.
  8. 0.4 miReach Windling Stair Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 0.4 miSharp left, heading SW.
  10. 0.7 miBear left, heading SE.
  11. 0.9 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 1.8 miTurn right onto Lettered Rock, heading SW.
  13. 2.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  14. 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 surface

58% dirt20% gravel22% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 82°F68°
Precip19%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity86%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
85°65° 1 PM: 7% rain2 PM: 11% rain3 PM: 18% rain4 PM: 19% rain5 PM: 8% rain6 PM: 8% rain7 PM: 4% rain8 PM: 3% rain9 PM: 1% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 7:03 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sat 85°69° 17%
Sun 87°63° 73%
Mon 72°61° 56%
Tue 75°56°
Wed 84°58°
Thu 84°62°

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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