A Detailed Guide For The Popular Rough Ridge Hiking Trail

Pack your adventure bag and get ready for some epic views. I feel like this super popular hike is a must do while you’re living in North Carolina because it’ll serve up those quintessential Blue Ridge Mountain views on a picture perfect platter. Plus it’s just a fun hike to do. Here’s my detailed guide for the Rough Ridge hiking trail with everything you need to know to prepare for an awesome day out.

A Detailed Guide For The Popular Rough Ridge Hiking Trail

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FAQ for hiking the Rough Ridge trail

Where is it located?

Linville, NC about 4 hours drive from Fayetteville.

Is it kid-friendly?

Yes. You know your kids better than I do though, so use this guide and your best judgment to decide if it’s appropriate for yours.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, on a leash.

What type of trail is it?

Point to point on dirt and rock trail for the most part. There is a section of wooden walkway as well.

How long does it take?

Approx 1 hour total depending on your pace.

What skill level is required?

Beginner – more details provided in this post.

What should you bring with you?

• Comfortable (and weather appropriate) hiking shoes – these are my favorite beginner hiking shoes
• Camera – this is my favorite adventure camera and I use it with this compact selfie stick/tripod combo
• Water
• Sun protection/weather protection appropriate for the season
• Snacks or energy gels

Where to park

You can use ‘Rough Ridge Lookout – Grandfather Mountain, NC’ in Google Maps to get to the parking area. Though, if the name changes in Google Maps over time, use Rough Ridge to get there and it’s fairly easy to spot when you get close.

Like many things off the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s on the side of the road and hard to miss.

This is a super popular hike because the views are some of the best you’ll find. With that popularity comes a crowded trail, and, of course, a crowded parking area, especially on weekends. Because of this, it’s good to have a little patience when it comes to finding a park (or go early if you have no patience.)

Alternate starting point to get to the Rough Ridge lookout

If the main parking lot is very crowded, another option is to follow the road down a little and park in the smaller lot at the Boulder Field Overlook.

You can get to the Rough Ridge trail by following the Tanawha trail from this lot. This is a long 13 mile trail and you are just doing a small part of it to get to Rough Ridge. However, you could also go much further if you want to.

I took the Tanawha trail to Rough Ridge because the main parking area was packed when I went. The entire hike I did took about 2 hours (with lots of stops for photos) and was approximately 2 and a half miles long.

Doing it this way was not planned, but in the end I really liked doing the hike this way. It added on an extra element to the adventure, which I think would’ve been a little to quick and easy for my skill level if I started from the main starting point.

This is where I started from

What to expect on the trail

As far as getting around is concerned, the trail is well marked and easy to follow the whole way to the top.

When you reach the lookout area by the wooden walkway, there are a lot of rocks to hang out on and soak in the views.

You can also keep going where you’ll find some big rocks with ropes up the side. This is a fun spot to chill out, soak in even more incredible views, and rest a bit before going back.

You’ll also find also a couple of small open areas off to the side where you can get some pictures if the main area is crowded.

One thing that’s really great about this hike is how there’s something for everyone. Like I said, you could go from the main parking area to the lookout, start from the Tanawha Trail to add some extra distance, or go even further along in the trail after the lookout. It’s customizable for however much energy you want to spend hiking.

Challenges of hiking the Rough Ridge trail

The first challenging part of the trail is that you are walking up an incline to get to the lookout. As long as you have a basic level of fitness, you’ll be fine. But, if you struggle with uphill hikes, it might be a little challenging.

The good news is that you can take it at your own pace and there are a few areas where you can stop and catch your breath.

Another challenge of this hike is the terrain. Most of it will take you on dirt paths with uneven rocks scattered around. If you are unsteady on your feet or have knee issues, it may be a little challenging for you.

Again though, you can take it at your pace and go as far as you are comfortable.

Just want to give you an idea of what to expect.

The views

Views from this trail are just gorgeous!

If you’re looking for those iconic layers of Blue Ridge Mountain peaks, this is a good spot to see them. I think it’d be hard to get a bad photo from up there, actually.

Where to stay

If you’re looking for a place to stay nearby, Banner Elk/Beech Mountain area is a great spot to base yourself from. I stayed at this awesome holiday home and it was simply fantastic!

The views from the balcony were stunning, the house had everything you need for a comfortable stay, and it was in a great location close to a lot of the big sites.

Wherever you stay, I recommend searching on Booking.com which is what I use to book accommodation when I travel and I can always find a good deal there.

Other guides you might enjoy

• A Detailed Guide On How To Find The Waterrock Knob Plane Crash

• Where To Swim At Jordan Lake, NC – Complete Beach Hopping Guide

• Glamping In North Carolina – Here’s How To Plan Your Off The Grid Adventure

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