Paddy Mountain Park has 152 acres of cove forest and a 3.6-mile loop trail system. You can check out the 0.3-mile green-blazed NPST Access Trail, the 1.1-mile orange-blazed Shagbark Hickory Loop, and the 1.7-mile blue-blazed Cohosh Loop. These trails go through oak, maple, and hickory forests and offer moderate hikes with 370 feet of elevation gain. We hiked all the trails in one day. Below is the route we took and some things we noticed along the way.
Table of Contents
- 1. Paddy Mountain Park Trails Overview
- 2. The Start – NPST Access Trail
- 3. Shagbark Hickory Loop (First Leg)
- 4. Cohosh Loop
- 5. Shagbark Hickory Loop (Second Leg)
- 6. Conclusion
1. Paddy Mountain Park Trails Overview
Paddy Mountain Park has three trails that form a loop system. The two longest trails connect, so you need to hike at least part of the first two to reach the loop farthest from the parking lot. We couldn’t find a park map online, so we took a quick photo of the map at the entrance before starting. There’s a nice picnic area and restrooms near the parking lot, and there are plenty of parking spaces for visitors.
2. The Start – NPST Access Trail
The only way to start a hike at Paddy Mountain Park is by taking the NPST Access Trail, which begins near the parking lot. This short trail is just 0.3 miles long and leads to the Shag Bark Hickory Loop. NPST means Northern Peaks State Trail, and in the future, it will connect directly to Paddy Mountain Park.
3. Shagbark Hickory Loop (First Leg)
The Shagbark Hickory Loop is the first loop trail you’ll come across as you move through the park. When we plan to hike all the trails, we try to find the best route so we don’t have to backtrack. For the Shagbark Hickory Loop, you can go left or right—either way, you’ll end up where the trail meets the Cohosh Loop. We went left and noticed some great spots for photos near the NPST Access Trail (one such photo is above this paragraph), where rocks line the path.
4. Cohosh Loop
After finishing the first part of the Shagbark Hickory Loop, we reached the Cohosh Loop. This trail is the farthest from the parking lot and is also the longest in the park at 1.7 miles. Walking the Cohosh Loop gave us a chance to see Ashe County’s diverse ecosystem. We passed tall shagbark hickories, oaks, and maples, and noticed black cohosh plants growing among wildflowers and other plants. There are also several rock formations you can see from the trail.
5. Shagbark Hickory Loop (Second Leg)
After finishing the Cohosh Loop, we stopped for a short break at the spot where the Cohosh and Shagbark Hickory Loops meet. There’s a bench there, which is a great place to rest or have a snack. Next, we started the second part of the Shagbark Hickory Loop, which goes from the Cohosh Loop back to the NPST Access Trail. Along this stretch, we passed some beautiful rhododendrons lining the trail. They must look amazing in the spring. While hiking here, we also spotted a woodpecker and a deer.
6. Conclusion
We finished our day hike by heading back down the NPST Access Trail to the parking area. While Paddy Mountain Park may not offer the famous panoramic views of Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, it does give you a good look at the Ashe County ecosystem and has well-kept trails to enjoy. That’s why we think Paddy Mountain Park is worth adding to your list when you visit Ashe County.