Nc Trail Guides

Alleghany River Access

📍 Jefferson, NC

Moderate 📏 4.0 Out-and-Back

The Alleghany River Access trail provides the most remote and rugged hiking experience available within New River State …

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Bear Swamp Trail

📍 Hollister, NC

Easy 📏 3.8 Loop

Bear Swamp Trail loops through the wetland and pond complex at Medoc Mountain State Park, visiting active beaver ponds a…

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Cedar Rock Trail

📍 Roaring Gap, NC

Moderate 📏 4.4 Loop

Cedar Rock Trail visits the park's second granite dome, a less-visited summit that rewards hikers with solitude and wide…

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Chimney Rock Summit Trail

📍 Chimney Rock, NC

Strenuous 📏 1.5 Out-and-Back

The Chimney Rock Summit Trail climbs to the top of the iconic 315-foot granite monolith that gives this North Carolina s…

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Coleman Trail

📍 Gatesville, NC

Easy 📏 5.0 Loop

The Coleman Trail ventures into the most remote section of Merchant Millpond State Park, following a long loop through t…

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Corridor Trail

📍 Pinnacle, NC

Moderate 📏 6.5 Out-and-Back

Corridor Trail connects the mountain section and river section of Pilot Mountain State Park, traversing a linear protect…

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Cox Mountain Trail

📍 Durham, NC

Moderate 📏 6.5 Loop

Cox Mountain Trail is the premier long route in Eno River State Park, climbing the ridge above the Eno River and returni…

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Crowders Mountain Trail

📍 Kings Mountain, NC

Strenuous 📏 5.4 Loop

Crowders Mountain Trail ascends the summit of Crowders Mountain, a 1,705-foot quartzite monadnock that rises dramaticall…

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Fanny's Ford Trail

📍 Durham, NC

Easy 📏 2.8 Loop

Fanny's Ford Trail follows the Eno River through one of the most historically rich sections of Eno River State Park, pas…

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Grassy Ridge Mine Trail

📍 Sapphire, NC

Moderate 📏 3.0 Out-and-Back

Grassy Ridge Mine Trail leads through lush gorge-country forest to the site of a historic corundum mine that operated in…

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Hanging Rock Trail

📍 Danbury, NC

Strenuous 📏 1.7 Out-and-Back

Hanging Rock Trail is the signature route of Hanging Rock State Park, ascending ancient quartzite to one of the most str…

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Hickory Nut Falls Trail

📍 Chimney Rock, NC

Moderate 📏 1.5 Out-and-Back

The Hickory Nut Falls Trail leads to the base of one of the tallest waterfalls in the eastern United States, a 404-foot …

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Jomeokee Trail

📍 Pinnacle, NC

Easy 📏 0.8 Loop

Jomeokee Trail encircles the base of Pilot Mountain's iconic quartzite knob, the distinctive rounded summit that has ser…

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Kings Pinnacle Trail

📍 Kings Mountain, NC

Strenuous 📏 4.4 Loop

Kings Pinnacle Trail reaches the twin summit of Crowders Mountain State Park, ascending the ridge that parallels Crowder…

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Lassiter Swamp Trail

📍 Gatesville, NC

Easy 📏 1.7 Loop

The Lassiter Swamp Trail explores the most primordial and visually striking landscape in Merchant Millpond State Park, e…

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Little Creek Loop

📍 Lillington, NC

Easy 📏 2.0 Loop

The Little Creek Loop at Raven Rock State Park provides a gentle introduction to the Piedmont woodland and creek bottom …

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Max Patch Summit

📍 Pisgah National Forest, Madison County, North Carolina

Moderate 📏 2.4 Loop

Max Patch is widely considered the most photogenic location on the entire Appalachian Trail, a sweeping 4629-foot grassy…

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Millpond Trail

📍 Gatesville, NC

Easy 📏 3.5 Loop

The Millpond Trail circles the historic 760-acre Merchant Millpond, following the shore of one of North Carolina most si…

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Moore's Wall Loop

📍 Danbury, NC

Strenuous 📏 4.4 Loop

Moore's Wall Loop reaches the highest elevation in Hanging Rock State Park, traversing a dramatic quartzite escarpment t…

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Mountain Trail Loop

📍 Pinnacle, NC

Moderate 📏 2.5 Loop

Mountain Trail Loop circles the upper mountain unit of Pilot Mountain State Park, visiting multiple overlooks that showc…

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Northington Ferry Trail

📍 Lillington, NC

Moderate 📏 3.0 Out-and-Back

The Northington Ferry Trail descends from the upland plateau of Raven Rock State Park to the banks of the Deep River, fo…

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Opera Box to Exclamation Point

📍 Chimney Rock, NC

Strenuous 📏 4.0 Loop

The Opera Box to Exclamation Point loop represents the most comprehensive hiking experience in Chimney Rock State Park, …

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Piper-Cox Connector

📍 Durham, NC

Moderate 📏 4.2 Out-and-Back

Piper-Cox Connector winds through the heart of Eno River State Park's piedmont forest, linking trail sections along the …

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Rainbow Falls Trail

📍 Sapphire, NC

Strenuous 📏 5.4 Out-and-Back

Rainbow Falls Trail descends into one of the most dramatic gorge systems in the southern Appalachians, culminating at a …

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Raven Rock Loop

📍 Lillington, NC

Moderate 📏 4.2 Loop

The Raven Rock Loop is the signature hike of Raven Rock State Park, encircling the massive 152-foot granite pluton that …

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Rocktop Trail

📍 Kings Mountain, NC

Moderate 📏 2.2 Out-and-Back

Rocktop Trail offers one of the most direct and rewarding ascents in Crowders Mountain State Park, following an exposed …

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Sound Side Trail

📍 Nags Head, NC

Easy 📏 2.0 Loop

The Sound Side Trail at Jockeys Ridge State Park explores the western edge of the dune system along the shores of Roanok…

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Stone Mountain Loop

📍 Roaring Gap, NC

Strenuous 📏 4.5 Loop

Stone Mountain Loop is the crown jewel trail of Stone Mountain State Park, circumnavigating a massive exposed granite do…

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Stream Loop Trail

📍 Hollister, NC

Easy 📏 1.5 Loop

Stream Loop Trail follows Little Fishing Creek through a lush bottomland forest that represents one of the most diverse …

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Summit Loop Trail

📍 Hollister, NC

Moderate 📏 2.6 Loop

Summit Loop Trail reaches the granite summit of Medoc Mountain, a modest but geologically significant monadnock rising a…

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Sunset Trail

📍 Nags Head, NC

Easy 📏 1.0 Out-and-Back

The Sunset Trail at Jockeys Ridge State Park follows a direct route up the dune face to the summit ridge for the specifi…

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Toxaway Falls Trail

📍 Sapphire, NC

Strenuous 📏 6.0 Out-and-Back

Toxaway Falls Trail descends into the Toxaway River gorge to reach a powerful series of falls straddling the North Carol…

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Tracks in the Sand Trail

📍 Nags Head, NC

Easy 📏 1.5 Loop

The Tracks in the Sand Trail traverses the largest active sand dune system on the East Coast of North America, climbing …

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Turbyville Trail

📍 Jefferson, NC

Moderate 📏 3.5 Loop

The Turbyville Trail at New River State Park combines river access with a loop through the characteristic Blue Ridge pas…

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Upper Cascades Trail

📍 Danbury, NC

Easy 📏 0.75 Out-and-Back

Upper Cascades Trail leads to a 12-foot waterfall on Cascade Creek, one of several waterfalls within Hanging Rock State …

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Wagoner Access Trail

📍 Jefferson, NC

Easy 📏 2.5 Out-and-Back

The Wagoner Access Trail follows the South Fork of the New River through the pastoral landscapes of Ashe County in the B…

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Wolf Rock Loop

📍 Roaring Gap, NC

Moderate 📏 2.0 Loop

Wolf Rock Loop is a shorter alternative in Stone Mountain State Park that delivers boulder scrambling and panoramic over…

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