Wildest hikes in North Carolina
The highest Ambleway Wildness scores in the catalog: the routes that stay farthest from roads, industry, and development.
These are the 25 wildest hikes Ambleway has measured in North Carolina, from 97% wild at the top of the board to 94% wild at the bottom. They run from 2.1 to 16 miles. The biggest climb on the board is Enloe Creek Trail via Hughes Ridge Trail, gaining 4,316 ft. They lie across 3 named parks, forests, and preserves.
- Tunnel Bypass Trail & Whiteoak Branch Trail via Lakeshore Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,680 ft · 97% wild
- Pretty Hollow Gap & Pretty Hollow Gap Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 2,385 ft · 96% wild
- North Harper Creek Trail & North Harper Shortcut 5.5 mi · ▲ 637 ft · 96% wild
- Enloe Creek Trail via Hughes Ridge Trail 15.5 mi · ▲ 4,316 ft · 96% wild
- Little Cataloochee Trail & Pretty Hollow Gap Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 2,093 ft · 96% wild
- Huntfish Falls–Huntfish Sidekick Falls, 3 falls 2.9 mi · ▲ 695 ft · 96% wild
- Board Camp Gap & Springhouse Branch Trail 13.5 mi · ▲ 2,239 ft · 96% wild
- Double Gap–Caldwell Fork Trail, 3 sights 14.7 mi · ▲ 3,727 ft · 96% wild
- Yellow Gap Road 6.9 mi · ▲ 868 ft · 95% wild
- Green Knob Overlook (MP 350.4)–Laurel Log Branch Trail, 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 2,203 ft · 95% wild
- Hangover Lead Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,815 ft · 95% wild
- Mountains-to-Sea Trail–Rich Cove Road Loop, 3 sights 2.1 mi · ▲ 530 ft · 95% wild
- Gray Wolf Walk & Tunnel Bypass Trail via Lakeshore Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,389 ft · 95% wild
- Big Fat Branch Trail 2.7 mi · ▲ 1,007 ft · 95% wild
- Cathedral Falls–Hawksbill Ledge, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 1,227 ft · 95% wild
- Beech Gap–Laurel Gap, 3 saddles 8.1 mi · ▲ 1,882 ft · 95% wild
- Cathedral Falls–Spence Ridge Trail, 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,014 ft · 95% wild
- Cantrell Creek–Horse Cove Gap, 3 sights 13.9 mi · ▲ 2,246 ft · 95% wild
- Bradley Creek Trail & Riverside via Yellow Gap Road 12.6 mi · ▲ 995 ft · 95% wild
- Pretty Hollow Gap–Mount Sterling Gap, 3 saddles 7.2 mi · ▲ 2,497 ft · 94% wild
- Devil's Cellar Overlook–Mountains-to-Sea Trail/ Table Rock Gap, 3 sights 4.6 mi · ▲ 1,167 ft · 94% wild
- Butter Gap–Cedar Rock Mountain Trail, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 466 ft · 94% wild
- Board Camp Gap & Forney Ridge Trail 10.8 mi · ▲ 2,729 ft · 94% wild
- Big Fat Branch Trail–Nichols Cove Trail Loop, 3 sights 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,654 ft · 94% wild
- Windy Gap Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 1,192 ft · 94% wild