Trace Ridge

Trace Ridge Trail (#354) is a long-distance hike out of Pisgah National Forest near Mills River and Asheville, NC. The route runs as a ridge-and-creek system with a mix of climbing and descent, and it’s blazed orange.

The trail’s southern end drops from the Trace Ridge Trailhead area toward the North Mills River Trail (#353) and Yellow Gap Trail (#611). There’s also a small rock outcrop section that can be tricky for horses and bikes when leaves cover it, which is a good reason hikers should keep footing discipline on loose rock.

On the north half, the trail climbs fairly steeply up Trace Ridge from just beyond the gated road uphill of the parking area, then includes a short steep drop to Spencer Gap before finishing the climb to the Blue Ridge Parkway area.

Expect hard-packed clay with loose rocks and active erosion features—deep ruts can show up on the descent and can get slick when wet. Scout the committed spots before you commit, and if the ground is saturated, plan for slower movement and better traction choices than you’d use on drier forest paths.

The route works as both a shorter loop option and a longer day program depending on how you connect trails. For a short loop, you can combine orange-blazed Trace Ridge Trail for about half a mile with Yellow-blazed Wash Creek Trail and return via Forest Road 142 (Hendersonville Reservoir Road).

For a bigger loop, connect Trace Ridge (#354) to Spencer Gap (#600) and Fletcher Creek Trail (#350) for a challenging longer outing that stays in the same network of drainages and junctions around Trace Ridge.

Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash, and the corridor is shared by hikers with some equestrian and mountain-bike access on designated sections—so be ready for encounters along the busier segments near the trailhead and connecting junctions.

More information: Visitor information, Trace Ridge - Fletcher Creek/Middle Fork Loop (9.9 miles; d=11.40), Trace Ridge-Wash Creek Loop (1.8 miles; d=2.16) - dwhike