I recently took a trip into those lovely hills in North Carolina to hike to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain near Black Mountain, NC. It was a relatively short, but fun hike that I highly recommend to the casual weekend hiker!
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard Length: 1.3 miles one way Why it's cool: Awesome views of the town of Black Mountain
The beginning of this hike starts at a popular trailhead in Montreat, NC. This trailhead is the beginning of a few different hikes in the Montreat area, so let it be known, y'all, we are taking the path less traveled!
About 0.4 miles into the hike, the trail splits into three different paths. To get to Rattlesnake, you'll need to take the right-most split, at which point the crowds start to thin out. This part is very nice, because you get to experience the quiet of the forest with more solitude and have some time for deep thinking about your future.... you know... if you're into that kind of thing.
The views from the top of the mountain are absolutely spectacular. We hiked this mountain on a sunny day in February, so the views were crystal-clear and breathtaking. There's something wonderful and humbling about the first glimpse of such an incredible view after trekking through the woods. Being surrounded by towering trees that have been wisened with the passage of time and watching as they slowly step aside to reveal the beautiful landscapes of the Earth is something that I'll never grow tired of.
I'm not usually one to be impressed with views of a road, but looking at I-40 from this perspective is inspiring in a way that I'm not sure I can describe. But, here I am rambling on, so here goes nothing, y'all. I-40 is a road that I've always associated with adventure. It curves through the Appalachian Mountains with such ease, acting as a passage for human life to traverse from one beautiful place to another. When I travel this road, it means that I'm on the way to see something special. It means that I'll soon be doing my favorite thing in the entire world, which is wandering through the Appalachian Mountains.
All-in-all, Rattlesnake Mountain is an excellent hike for a nice workout, amazing views, and inspirational Appalachian Mountain goodness! If you can make the trip to check it out, I hope that you love it as much as I did. Always remember to practice Leave No Trace Principles when wandering. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Happy wandering, y'all!
SHOP MOUNTAIN INSPIRED GOODS HERE:
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