River Ridge Loop
- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 276 ft
- climb
- 1,508 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is River Ridge Loop open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in National Forests in North Carolina. It doesn't name River Ridge Loop, so check the source for the area it covers.
Table Rock Road construction starts Nov. 2, 2026
Agency closure covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
Rainbow Springs Road closed for reconstruction
Agency alert covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
Siddie Fields Day Use Area closed for improvements
Agency alert covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
Pisgah National Forest Driving Safety Alert
Agency alert covering National Forests in North Carolina · USFS · National Forests in North Carolina
As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in North Carolina. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
River Ridge Loop is a short out-and-back trail in Tennessee managed by the Forest Service. The trail is 0.41 miles long with 218 feet of elevation gain.
Local outfitters
- Nantahala Outdoor Center10 mi away
- French Broad Adventures10 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Nearby · Roundtop Ridge · Lover's Leap · BUCKEYE RIDGE HORSE
Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit River Ridge Loop
Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
48° / 28°
12 wet
Feb
52° / 31°
12 wet
Mar
60° / 37°
12 wet
Apr
71° / 44°
12 wet
May
78° / 54°
12 wet
Jun
84° / 62°
13 wet
Jul
87° / 65°
13 wet
Aug
86° / 65°
11 wet
Sep
82° / 59°
8 wet
Oct
72° / 47°
9 wet
Nov
60° / 36°
9 wet
Dec
51° / 32°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hot Springs, NC, 2.9 mi away at 1,345 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Roundtop Ridge
~6 min drive
A moderate 6.41-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee connecting to the Appalachian Trail system.
Lover's Leap
~6 min drive
A hard 1.11-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee connecting to Silver Mine Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
Photo: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)BUCKEYE RIDGE HORSE
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6.62-mile out-and-back trail in North Carolina with 1,603 ft elevation gain and loss.
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PAINT MTN TRAIL
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16.8-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 6,212 ft elevation gain
Pump Gap Loop
~7 min drive
An 8.51-mile out-and-back singletrack trail in Tennessee connecting to the Appalachian Trail.
Photo: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Max Patch Short Loop
~17 min drive
A moderate 1.88-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee that connects to the Appalachian Trail system.
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Jack Branch Trail
Next door
2.32-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 1,328 ft elevation gain.
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MEADOW CREEK MTN TRAIL
~17 min drive
25.24-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 7,852 ft elevation gain
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CHIMNEY ROCKS TRAIL
~4 min drive
9.34-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 3,336 ft elevation gain
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Jack Branch
~2 min drive
2.22-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 804 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors