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Woody Ridge and Colbert Ridge loop - Pisgah National Forest, NC

4,156 views · Published 23 October 2017 · 29:55 · Indexed 11 October 2026

Channel: Zachary Robbins · 2017 · Travel & Events

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Beautiful weather on the first day of October for hiking in the Black Mountains. I tackled a loop that I did a few years before in reverse. The Woody Ridge Trail is one of the steepest sustained climbs in the state, with an elevation change over 2,900 ft in 2.6 miles. This is the best access to the northern Blacks and the best stretch of the Black Mountain Crest Trail. There are two nice viewpoints near the top of Woody Ridge, the second being a large cliff with big views northeast. I think this actually might be Horse Rock. The maps are very inconsistent with the labeling of Horse Rock and Percys Peak at the crest. 

When I reached the Black Mountain Crest Trail I first did a side trip north to Horse Rock Meadows below Celo Knob, which has the best views in the region. On my way south I bagged Gibbs Mountain (6,220 ft) using an overgrown flagged manway, which was the last significant peak I hadn't bagged in the Blacks. There are more great views on the rocky ridge between Gibbs and Winter Star where I stopped for lunch. After the descent from Winter Star to Deep Gap there are no more open views. The upper third of the Colbert Ridge Trail was rough. Halfway down I left the main trail on primitive forest road to connect with old forest roads on the east side of the range, eventually connecting to the Woody Ridge parking lot. This connection via a myriad of old roads is consistently flagged, thanks to Rick Morris and PHOC for tracking this route. Last time I completed the loop by walking 4+ miles on the highway, so this was definitely quicker. 

This is a long video, and could've been much longer. I cut about 10 minutes of clips. So enjoy it however you want, it's kind of an accidental love letter from me to the Black Mountains haha.

Hike was 11.2 miles in 7 hours and 15 minutes.

Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/44Q17wPaFeGqrtBs8

Hike report
https://www.hikingupward.com/PNF/WoodyRidgeTrail/

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