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An easy, scenic, crazy nice stretch of singletrack with tons of good views along the edge of Doughton Park.


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Map Key

7.2

Miles

11.5

KM

Point to Point

3,780' 1,152 m

High

3,198' 975 m

Low

905' 276 m

Up

678' 207 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

The Bluff Mountain Trail is a 7-ish mile segment of the Mountain to Sea Trail in Doughton Park along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the easiest trail in Doughton Park and the one with the most views. The only really challenging section is the short switchback ascent up the Alligators Back, but it's still pretty tame compared to the rest of the trails in the park that descend the entire mountain. Use this trail to link up the other trails and get some solid mountain hiking in at this gem of a park.

Contacts

Land Manager: Blue Ridge Parkway

Shared By:

Brandon Thrower

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 6 votes

#6979

Overall
  4.7 from 6 votes
5 Star
67%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#229

in North Carolina

#6,979

Overall
13 Views Last Month
2,701 Since Jan 1, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
33%
33%
17%
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Photos

Clouds hang low in the valley along Alligator Back on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Jan 3, 2017 near Sparta, NC
Trailhead parking
Aug 6, 2019 near Sparta, NC
Some of the alligator rocks
Aug 6, 2019 near Sparta, NC
View from Bluff Mountain
Aug 6, 2019 near Sparta, NC
Blue Ridge Parkway at the top of Flat Rock Ridge
Jan 9, 2018 near Mulberry, NC
Mountain to Sea Trail Alligator Back Blue Ridge Parkway 1152
Aug 12, 2019 near Sparta, NC

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 88 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 11, 2024
Appalachian Red
Trail is in great shape!
May 20, 2022
Rene Gonzalez
Started at Bluff Mountain Overlook to Basin Cover Overlook on the way to Flat Rock Ridge 1.9mi — 0h 45m
Apr 11, 2020
Raquel T
MST Section Day Hike — 8h 49m
Oct 11, 2017
Taylor Keith
Alligator backbone to Brenigar Cabin 5.9mi
Sep 23, 2017
Brandon Sykes
Nov 7, 2003
Brianna Lineberry
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