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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

Leave it better than you found it.

Hike

Rhododendron Ridge Trail

Passes Lookout Mountain
2,302 ft of climbing

5.7 mi out & back · 2,302 ft gain · 3,791 ft high point · Very hard

Via the The Gate Trail, the Rainbow Mountain Trail, Rainbow Road, Old Trestle Road, the Lookout Trail, the East Ridge Trail, the Hickory Ridge Trail, and Old Mitchell Toll Road (2.3 mi)

NC · OpenStreetMap contributors

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Rhododendron Ridge Trail out and back ascends 2,302 ft to 3,791 ft via Rainbow Gap, Lookout Rocks, and Boggs Bunion peak.

Elevation

2,302 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

6.8 mi from the trailhead
Curtis Creek Campground (Nc)
Campground · NC

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

9 mi from you
Mount Mitchell Trail
- Summits Mount Mitchell
- Inside Pisgah National Forest
- 3,689 ft of climbing
10.9 mi out & back · 3,689 ft gain · Very hard
Pisgah National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Out: 1,520 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Rainbow MountainAlong the way · 0.6 mi in
Rainbow MountainAlong the way · 1.0 mi in
Rainbow GapAlong the way · 1.2 mi in
Lookout RocksAlong the way · 1.5 mi in
Lookout MountainAlong the way · 1.7 mi in
Boggs BunionAlong the way · 2.1 mi in
Brushy MountainNearby · 1.4 mi in
Rattlesnake MountainNearby · 1.8 mi in
Copperhead MountainNearby · 1.8 mi in
Shelter ViewNearby · 2.1 mi in
Buck GapNearby · 2.1 mi in
Buck GapNearby · 2.1 mi in

Nearby reading

Swannanoa Gap
Ridgecrest, North Carolina

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 5.7 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 2,302 ft round trip
High point: 3,791 ft
Low point: 2,490 ft
Difficulty: Very hardFrom 5.7 mi and 2,302 ft of climbing, with steep sections
Managed by: OpenStreetMap contributors
State: NC
Camps within 15 mi: 5
Trailhead: 35.6391° N · 82.3112° W

Get directions Open the map

7.3 mi from the trailhead

Curtis Creek Campground

Campground · NC

9.3 mi from the trailhead

Briar Bottom Group Campground

Campground · NC

9 mi from you

Buncombe Horse Range Trail

Passes Chestnut Knob
Inside Pisgah National Forest
3,448 ft of climbing

17.1 mi one way · 3,448 ft gain · Very hard

Pisgah National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Old Mitchell Trail

Summits Mount Mitchell
1,145 ft of climbing
Camp 3 mi away

3.5 mi out & back · 1,145 ft gain · Moderate

NC · Camp 3 mi away

Balsam Nature Trail

Summits Mount Mitchell
Camp 3 mi away

2.1 mi loop · 606 ft gain · Moderate

NC · Camp 3 mi away

Mount Mitchell Summit Trail

Summits Mount Mitchell
Camp 3 mi away

1.7 mi out & back · 555 ft gain · Easy

NC · Camp 3 mi away

Woody Ridge Trail

Passes Winter Star Mountain
Inside Pisgah National Forest
7,467 ft of climbing

17.4 mi out & back · 7,467 ft gain · Very hard

Pisgah National Forest · Camp under a mile away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Hickory Ridge Trail
- Summits Lookout Mountain
- 1,581 ft of climbing
3.6 mi out & back · 1,581 ft gain · Hard
NC · Camp 7 mi away
Rattlesnake Trail
- Passes Lookout Mountain
- 2,365 ft of climbing
6.0 mi out & back · 2,365 ft gain · Very hard
NC · Camp 7 mi away
Adventure Trail
- Passes Lookout Mountain
- 2,579 ft of climbing
7.9 mi out & back · 2,579 ft gain · Very hard
NC · Camp 7 mi away
Lookout Trail
- Summits Lookout Mountain
- 1,922 ft of climbing
4.9 mi out & back · 1,922 ft gain · Very hard
NC · Camp 7 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Wed63°58°Patchy Fog
Thu69°52°Patchy Fog
Fri67°44°Chance Rain Showers
Sat60°38°Sunny
Sun58°37°Mostly Sunny
Mon57°36°Sunny
Tue61°Sunny

Wed: Patchy Fog · wind 9 mph SE

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Good
AT&TLTE · Poor
T-Mobile5G · Good

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain