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Asheville, NC: Woody Ridge Trail
This challenging 4.8-miler in the Black Mountains features a stiff climb past rhododendron and rocky outcrops to a windswept ridge connecting Celo Knob and Gibbs Mountain.
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| Author: | TimJohnson |
| Source: |
 on my Nextel phone
|
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | North Carolina (NC) |
| Distance: | 4.8 mi |
| Difficulty: | 7 / 10 |
| USGS Topo Map: | Celo |
| Rating: | Unrated |
Roughly an hour from Asheville, this challenging trek on Woody Ridge Trail climbs to a ridgeline connecting Gibbs Mountain and Celo Knob. From the parking area, walk up an old road blazed with yellow paint. The piercing call of the Acadian Flycatcher and the tumbling waters of Shuford Creek can be heard in the background. After 0.2 mile, stay left at a Y-intersection; 400 feet later, cross the streamlet feeding Shuford Creek.
The trail passes a handful of junctions over the next mile: stay on Woody Creek Trail and continue climbing. At mile 1.3, turn right and cross a shallow spring. Almost immediately, a sharp left turn leads above a group of rocks where the steep, unrelenting climb begins. Follow the very rocky, rooty, and narrow singletrack through patches of galax.
After 1.5 miles, look carefully to spot a yellow blaze on a rock to the right, and then immediately make a sharp left turn. Rhododendron and mountain laurel form a tunnel overhead. Catch your breath as the trail levels along grassy slopes among high bush blueberry and whorled loosestrife.
Less than half a mile later, the path passes a rock outcrop with views to the east. (Savor more views from narrow rock outcrops 700 feet up the trail.) At mile 2.4, enter a grassy opening where Woody Ridge Trail ends at a T-intersection with Black Mountain Crest Trail. Hikers can turn right to summit Celo Knob, or turn left (south) to climb Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Backtrack to the trailhead.
-Mapped by Tim Johnson
TO TRAILHEAD: Take I-26 W to US 19/19E (toward Burnsville). Continue east and turn right on NC 80 at Micaville. Turn right on White Oak Rd. (SR 1155). After 2.3 miles, turn right on Shuford Creek (SR 1156). Continue 0.7 mile to small gravel parking lot. Trail begins at the west end of lot.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Woody Ridge Trail
| Distance: 2.43 mi | Points: 523 |
Points of Interest
WRT001
Location: 35.838172, -82.219462Walk up the old road blazed with yellow paint. Pass by large rocks that block the trail entrance from motorized traffic. The piercing call of the Acadian Flycatcher (sounds like a squeaky dog toy) and the tumbling waters of Shuford Creek can be heard in the background. Hickory and poplar dominate the tree canopy while rhododendron shades the creek.
WRT002
Location: 35.838315, -82.222807Stay left at Y-intersection along the old rutted and rocky road. Look for the "stringy" yellow blooms of witch hazel, a mid-story shrub, in the late fall and early winter.
WRT003
Location: 35.838499, -82.224126Cross the streamlet feeding Shuford Creek.
WRT004
Location: 35.838381, -82.224448Continue straight. The trail ascends moderately. Crested dwarf iris grows along the trail.
WRT005
Location: 35.838660, -82.224936Continue straight at 4-way intersection with old logging road. The Eastern Wood-Pewee, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Wood Thrush all call this forest home during breeding season. The often two-tiered whorled leaves and flowers of Indian cucumber root are found here. This plant produces a crisp, edible tuber that smells and tastes like a garden cucumber.
WRT006
Location: 35.840066, -82.225596Stay left at Y-intersection; the sounds of the creek shift to the right-hand side of the trail. Hike past wood betony and numerous ferns as the trail narrows during this mild ascent.
WRT007
Location: 35.841037, -82.226380Stay left at Y-intersection and climb wide switchbacks. A large house-sized rock towers close to the trail on the left. Cross a small creek, and stay left at a small opening. The needles of Carolina hemlock and red spruce become more common as the trail gains elevation.
WRT008
Location: 35.845711, -82.227998Stay left at Y-intersection. Continue ascending old road through open woods. Look for the deeply veined leaves of mountain maple on the edge of the trail. Squawroot, a favorite food of the black bears that roam the area, grows within the trail tread. This parasitic plant grows from the roots of oak and beech trees.
WRT009
Location: 35.846124, -82.230890Turn right and cross a shallow spring in front of large rocks. A quick sharp left turn guides you above the rocks to begin a steep unrelenting climb. Turks cap lily can grow 4-5 feet high and blooms here in late July and early August. The brilliant orange flowers come in groups of 2-7. Look for the jagged leaves of American chestnut sprouts coming from old stumps. Follow the very rocky, rooty, and narrow singletrack through patches of galax.
WRT010
Location: 35.844493, -82.234353Look carefully: Follow a yellow blaze on a rock to the right, and then immediately make a sharp left turn. Rhododendron and mountain laurel form a tunnel overhead. Catch your breath as the trail levels along grassy slopes among high bush blueberry and whorled loosestrife. A large rock to the right is covered with lichen. Red spruce needles cover the forest floor.
WRT011
Location: 35.844602, -82.238218Trail turns right up sloping rock face.
WRT012
Location: 35.844513, -82.238798Enjoy nice views to the east from this rock outcrop before returning to the dark and damp spruce-fir forest that is found along these higher peaks. Juncos flit about in the treetops.
WRT013
Location: 35.845200, -82.240651Savor more 180-degree views from narrow rock outcrops. Crawl through, under, and over rocks and follow the yellow blazes back into the shady forest. Ferns and young Fraser firs grow among mossy stumps and rocks. Follow needle-covered path over and around fallen rotting logs.
WRT014
Location: 35.846587, -82.247206Enter a grassy opening among windswept trees and bushes where Woody Ridge Trail ends at a T-intersection with Black Mountain Crest Trail. Turn right (north) to summit Celo Knob, or turn left and hike south 6 miles to the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Backtrack to the trailhead.
Large Rock on Woody Ridge Trail
Location: 35.841751, -82.226899© Tim Johnson
Parking Area at Trailhead
Location: 35.838181, -82.219386© Tim Johnson
Trailhead
Location: 35.838172, -82.219429© Tim Johnson
Woody Ridge Trail
Location: 35.838803, -82.220907© Tim Johnson
Trail Intersection
Location: 35.838318, -82.222769Stay left at Y-intersection. © Tim Johnson
Trail Intersection
Location: 35.840066, -82.225547Stay left. © Tim Johnson
Trail
Location: 35.840312, -82.226534© Tim Johnson
Ferns and Wood Betony
Location: 35.840858, -82.226202© Tim Johnson
Wildlife
Location: 35.842219, -82.227986These little guys are everywhere. © Tim Johnson
Trail Intersection
Location: 35.845711, -82.227959Stay left. © Tim Johnson
Squaw Root
Location: 35.845811, -82.228369Food for bears. © Tim Johnson
Trail
Location: 35.845791, -82.228997© Tim Johnson
Trail
Location: 35.845926, -82.229742© Tim Johnson
Blaze
Location: 35.846048, -82.230059© Tim Johnson
Trail
Location: 35.846087, -82.230392© Tim Johnson
Steep and Narrow Singletrack
Location: 35.845987, -82.231266© Tim Johnson
"Tree Steps"
Location: 35.845491, -82.232478© Tim Johnson
Grassy Slopes
Location: 35.844674, -82.237172© Tim Johnson
Grassy Slopes
Location: 35.844702, -82.237277© Tim Johnson
Trail
Location: 35.844800, -82.237663© Tim Johnson
Trail
Location: 35.844600, -82.238181© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.844548, -82.238768© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.844528, -82.238757© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.844508, -82.238757© Tim Johnson
Sedum
Location: 35.844493, -82.238760© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.844474, -82.238795© Tim Johnson
Saxifrage
Location: 35.845224, -82.240629© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.845213, -82.240605© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.845200, -82.240597© Tim Johnson
Galax
Location: 35.845176, -82.240616© Tim Johnson
Views
Location: 35.845154, -82.240621© Tim Johnson
Blaze on rock
Location: 35.846693, -82.246410© Tim Johnson
Windswept Trees and Bushes
Location: 35.846607, -82.247086© Tim Johnson
Intersection with Black Mountain Crest Trail
Location: 35.846580, -82.247169© Tim Johnson
Western Terminus
Location: 35.846589, -82.247185© Tim Johnson
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