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 Reporter |
Summary: This loop can be easy our tough... depending on your direction. If you go clockwise, you take the steep parts downhill, with the uphill and easy trip along a forest service road. Vice versa it's a lot tougher... with the climb a nice thigh-burner. In either direction, you're quickly secluded away from the BRP and on your own. You'll easily note temperature differences as you descend about 2000 feet into the valley. When I hiked it last fall, it was chilly on top, but a somewhat warm and humid in the valley. It's a wooded hike, with little "vast overlooks", but the valley with its primitive campsite is rarely used (or so it seemed), and it's a great get-away hike. Trailhead: Located at milepost 241 of the Blue Ridge Parkway (in Alleghany County,) near Laurel Springs and Ashe County. Enter Doughton Park, and make a right (a left will take you to the lodge). Take road until the end, and the trailhead is right there at the parking area. Park signs are also there to help "find your way" to Bluff Ridge Trail. (Lat:36.42215 Lon:-81.18326) Trail Guides for Bluff Ridge Trail Loop - Doughton Park: Walking the Blue Ridge: A Guide to the Trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway by Leonard M. Adkins (Univ of North Carolina Pr; (July 1991)) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: US National Park Service Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Andrew Hall, who has posted 7 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Jasper on 4/10/2008 Just did this hike today. It was really nice--lots of solitude except for the deer and turkeys I saw. I would call it moderate but long (clockwise). You should be aware that the gate to the trailhead is locked for the season. You have to park at the Lodge and walk 1.5 miles on blacktop to the trailhead.
Reviewed by Chuck on 3/5/2008 Will hike again. My 11 year old son (now 12) and I did this trail with some friends in Nov '06. Great views, nice trail, good primitive camping at the creek. We joined up w/ 2 other Scout Troops by coincidence. I'm taking our Scout troop there in April this year.
Reviewed by Scott on 11/25/2007 This trail is not moderate. It is strenuous, even going the clockwise "easier" direction. It took about 4 hours for us to hike, including a lunch break. Great views are all around. Be careful during the fall. The leaves on the ground make the Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail pretty slick going down. One of my favorite hikes! 
Reviewed by CG on 9/5/2006 Unless you are in extremely good shape, you absolutely want to take the clockwise direction. Also, since it is an eleven mile hike with an elevation change of over 2300 feet, you can NOT do this hike in 4 1/2 hours...Allow at least 7 hours.....
Reviewed by DA on 9/4/2006 Hikers should be aware that if you hike the 2.9 mile downhill leg of the Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail (which concludes at the Primitive Campsite), there is NO, I repeat, NO trail sign directing you to the Grassy Gap Fire Road Trail. At this point, it is very easy to make a wrong turn and end up on Longbottom Rd. (paved), and then must backtrack 4.0+ miles to the Primitive Campsite. Also, hiking uphill on the Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail is extremely STRANEOUS and recommended only if you are in training for climbing Mt. Everest in the near future.
Reviewed by MM on 1/4/2006 The Doughton Park recreational area has a series of trails. If you are looking for a nice, quiet hike - this is it. You can also do a larger loop that includes the Cedar Ridge Trail and the Flat Rock Ridge trail for a total of 17 - 17.5 miles. Better views are offered along these trails. Find a good map and enjoy.
Reviewed by JZ on 8/20/2005 Note that the distance on the hike has been updated to 10 miles round trip.
Reviewed by HC on 8/9/2005 This loop includes the 2.8 mile downhill leg on the Bluff Ridge Trail. However, it is 5 miles back up to the top on the fire road, and approximately another 3 from the top of the fireroad to the Bluff Ridge trail head, making the entire loop closer to 11 miles than the 5 1/2 suggested in this review. This will be clear from the maps at the trailhead, but readers might like to know this before heading out. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: North Carolina Hiking, North Carolina Trails, North Carolina Hikes, Alleghany County Hiking, Alleghany County Trails, Alleghany County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||