Editing Talk:Rattlesnake Ridge

From club newsletters in reverse chronological order:


Friday Hikers, Rattlesnake Ridge, February 12, 2010 
Collins Chew reporting 
We indeed had a winter wonderland for our hike today. Considering the recent hundred-mile-an-hour winds, there weren't as many blowdowns as I expected. However, a massive set stopped us about a third of a mile from our stated goal at the road on Unaka Mountain. Nevertheless we had a good hike (probably 6 or 7 miles with a 2,100 foot climb) from Rock Creek Picnic Area through snow which was deeper toward the top. I took poles for a change which really helped, particularly for knocking snow off the low hanging rhododendron which filled the trail, particularly toward the top. The views were beautiful.


Fall Color Hike: Rattlesnake Ridge Trail to Unaka Mountain, October 11, 2008
Leader: Joe DeLoach, 423-753-7263
Rating: B/2/B
First and foremost, this is not a snake hunting hike and we don’t expect to see any! The
Rattlesnake Ridge Trail has some very nice fall color and great views as far as the Smokies from the Pleasant Gardens Overlook on Unaka Mountain. This out-and-back hike with a total length just short of 9 miles is a steady climb of around 2500’ starting from the Rock Creek Recreation Area near Erwin to the 4850’ overlook. After walking past the campground we climb about a mile to Dick Creek Gap, a junction of several trails and old roads, and soon thereafter enter the Unaka Mountain Wilderness for the last 3 miles to the top. Being in Wilderness and not heavily used, the trail may be a little overgrown even in mid-October but is well defined. We pass through several forest types which should provide a good variety of fall foliage. Wearing or bringing layers of clothing is strongly encouraged for this change in elevation. The main meeting time and place is the parking lot between McDonald's and the bank in front of Ingles in Colonial Heights for an 8:30 AM departure. A Johnson City meeting point can be arranged upon request.

Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, October 11, 2008
Joe DeLoach reporting
We caught the fall colors pretty well for the climb up Rattlesnake Ridge to the Unaka
Mountain Pleasant Gardens Overlook. This climb of around 2500’ in a little over 4 miles
goes through all the Southern Appalachian forest zones, so we got to see gold sweetgums at the bottom, crimson sourwoods and oaks on the climb through drier sections, and yellow birch and witchhazel at the top, with red maples mixed in all the way. Some clouds prevented distant views, but the ridges leading up to Unaka Mountain were very nice. We found most of an old picnic table for lunch at the top and, other than the hike leader and the person following him blithely stepping over a small garter snake near the top on the descent, had an uneventful and pleasant hike.


Hike: Rattlesnake Ridge, Saturday, October 25, 1997
Leader: Joe DeLoach, Rating: Difficult
Rattlesnake Ridge leads from near Erwin up to the summit area of Unaka Mountain. In late October there should be outstanding views of the mountains in their fall colors. The hike is, up and back, 6 to 8 miles. The ambiguity is due to whether or not the Rock Creek Recreation Area is open or not; the Rattlesnake Ridge Trail itself is only about 3 miles long but if the gate to the recreation area is closed we'll have about a mile extra through the recreation area to reach the trailhead. Once we hit the trail it is a good climb of 2500' to the overlook, so expect this hike to be steep - but pretty! We'll meet at 8:00 am at the parking lot between Burger King and McDonald's in Colonial Heights. Bring water and lunch, and we should get you home around 4:00 pm. Call Joe for more info.

Hike Report: Rattlesnake Ridge, Oct. 25, 1997
Joe DeLoach Reporting
The morning of October 25 was a little rainy, and as we gathered in the Colonial Heights parking lot there some skepticism about whether it was really a good day for hiking. But, we took a leap of faith and made the drive to Erwin for the hike. This turned out to be a great move because it turned into a beautiful day and the colors were very pretty. The Rattlesnake Ridge Trail is about four miles long from the parking area in Rock Creek Park to the Pleasant Garden overlook on Unaka Mountain. There are a couple of steep stretches in first mile, and it's a bit overgrown near the top, but for the most part it is a moderate climb on a well-graded We saw no snakes, but we did have a very nice view as far as the Smokies at the top. We should keep this in mind because it's close, easy to get to, pretty, not too difficult, and goes to a high mountain.