Tennessee · Hiking

Wolf Ridge

2.3 mi
one way
762 ft
climb
3,007 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Mar–May, Aug–Nov
best months

Is Wolf Ridge open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Cherokee National Forest. It doesn't name Wolf Ridge, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Cherokee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Wolf Ridge is a 2.3-mile point-to-point hike in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest, within the Ocoee Ranger District and the South Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area. The route rises from about 2,521 feet to a high point of 3,007 feet, with a total elevation gain of 762 feet. The land is managed jointly. The climb is a hard one, and the route also drops about 1,178 feet from the top, so plan on a full day. Bikes and horses are not allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Blairsville, Georgia, show October highs around 70°F with lows near 43°F, and April highs around 69°F. That station sits roughly 1,058 feet lower than the high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Nearby hikes include Big Creek, about 1.6 miles away, and Hemp Top, about 1.9 miles away. For an overnight stay, Cottonwood Patch Campground is about 5.3 miles away, and GoForth Creek Boulders offers climbing about 5.4 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Aug–Nov

    Best time to visit Wolf Ridge

    Best months: March–May and August–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.

    1. Jan

      49° / 25°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      53° / 28°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 34°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      69° / 41°

      11 wet

    5. May

      76° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 58°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 62°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 61°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      80° / 55°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 43°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 33°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 29°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Blairsville Exp Stn, GA, 36.5 mi away at 1,949 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Quartz LoopPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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BOYD GAP BIKE TRAILPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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SYLCO LOOP

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RIVERVIEW BIKE TRAILPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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~10 min drive

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Hemp Top

~3 min drive

Hemp Top is a 3.60-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 6,809 ft of elevation gain.

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Beech Bottom

~6 min drive

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Licklog Ridge

~7 min drive

5.16-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 6,517 ft elevation gain.

Clemmer Spur TrailPhoto: Nicolas Raymond from Bethesda, Maryland, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Big Frog Trail No. 64

~4 min drive

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Route details

Distance
2.3 mi
Climbing
About 762 ft
Summit
3,027 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 1 hour

Other routes up Chestnut Mountain

Questions about this route

How long is the Wolf Ridge on Chestnut Mountain?

About 2.3 mi.

How much elevation gain is on the Wolf Ridge?

About 762 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Wolf Ridge?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Wolf Ridge take?

About 1 hour round trip.

How many routes go up Chestnut Mountain?

2: Wolf Ridge and Hemp Top.

Conditions and forecast on Chestnut Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors