Paddy Mountain Park – List of Trails

If you’re planning a visit to Paddy Mountain Park and looking to plan out your hike, you’ve come to the right place. The park’s three connected trails wind through quiet cove forest in the Amphibolite Mountains just outside West Jefferson, NC, offering something for every kind of hiker — from a short, accessible walk into the woods to a deeper loop through the heart of the forest. Click on the trail names below to dive deeper into each one — including what to expect on the path, where to find the trailhead, and our own first-hand notes from the trail.

Trail Name	Blaze	Length	Difficulty	Trail Use
NPST Access Trail	Green	0.30-mile one way	Easy	Hiking Only
Shagbark Hickory Loop	Orange	1.1-mile loop	Moderate	Hiking Only
Cohosh Loop	Blue	1.7-mile loop	Moderate	Hiking Only

Planning Your Hike

For a quick, accessible walk into the woods, the NPST Access Trail is the gateway to the rest of the park — an easy 0.3-mile climb from the parking area that’s well-suited for families and first-time visitors. From there, the Shagbark Hickory Loop adds a peaceful 1.1-mile walk through tall shagbark hickories, oaks, and maples for the perfect first introduction to the park.

For a longer day on the trails, the Cohosh Loop is the most substantial of the three at 1.7 miles, winding deeper into the cove forest where the namesake black cohosh wildflowers grow. Reaching the Cohosh Loop requires hiking the NPST Access Trail and at least part of the Shagbark Hickory Loop first, making it a more committed outing — but a genuinely rewarding one.

The full network connects together as a stacked loop system, with approximately 350 to 370 feet of total elevation gain when you hike everything. Plan for a quick stop on the NPST Access Trail or settle in for a longer morning across all three — either way, Paddy Mountain Park rewards every visit.

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