Doughton Recreation Area: Southwest and Down the Bluff Mountain Trail

How We Found It: The table of contents of 100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina.

Date and Distance Hiked: 9/2/13, 9 miles.

Good Seasons: all of them.

Find the Trailhead: On the Blue Ridge Parkway at Bluffs Lodge. The segment we hiked starts to the right of the lodge along the fence.

Map: Here is a helpful but not detailed Doughton Recreation Area trail map [PDF 228KB] to print out.

At 1.4 miles into the route we took, at a cool abandoned parking area, there is a large wooden map sign that you can snap a picture of for reference, but it’s always a good idea to have a physical map with you!

Bathroom Situation: Bushes, since the Lodge is closed – very closed until funding or a new concession agreement or something is figured out.

Fees (Where/How Much): Free.

Our Route: Bluff Mountain Trail – from Bluffs Lodge to Basin Creek Overlook and back (4.5 miles each way).

Of Interest: Choose from 30 miles of trails, ranging in difficulty levels, in this “recreation area” along the Parkway near Sparta, NC.

We picked the 4.5-mile segment of 7.5-mile Bluff Mountain Trail because of our rare desire for a low-key hike. The elevation change ratio to distance made us happy: only 650′.

This part of Bluff Mountain Trail hugs the Parkway and visits three overlooks: Alligator Back Overlook, Bluff Mountain Overlook and Basin Creek Overlook (where the Bluff Mountain Trail ends and we turned around, though the 5-mile Flat Rock Ridge Trail picks up here).

Google “Doughton hiking” for other Doughton trail options. CNY Hiking has a good overview of Doughton Recreation Area trails. This post from B-Fick has a nice description and pictures of Cedar Ridge and Flat Rock Ridge Trails, and we enjoyed this photo blog of Apollo Creed’s visit to Brinegar Cabin.

What Nobody Told Us before We Went:

• Lodge and coffee shop were closed. We suspected this because of reviews online but weren’t able to confirm that they were closed until we got up there. Coffee would have been great. Coffee goes well with hiking.

• Much of the elevation change happens in a 1/2 mile stretch on “Alligator Back,” which is a big rock that spits you onto the Parkway to enjoy the Alligator Back Overlook.

• Geology note: from a distance, Alligator Back looks like a big rock with trees, not an alligator’s back. The name comes from a gneiss and shist formation common in the Blue Ridge that looks like an alligator’s back. Find an example on this highly informative, somewhat-over-our-heads NC geology website.

• While the trail is pretty well marked, signage is older and some markings have worn off, so it’s helpful to have a map in hand.

• The area is due some love (funding). Bridges were falling apart, and blazes were faded. But the trail itself was in good shape, well maintained and mowed.

Hike Highlights:

• Wildflowers, shoulder high in some areas, and late-summer colors.

• The trail follows a ridge, affording constant views, from rolling meadows to long-range vistas over the mountains.

• Cows!

• A magical meadow of thistles and Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies. Bring your camera for serious desktop-wallpaper shots.

• A quick stop to take pictures of the photogenic Brinegar Cabin after the hike.