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1.6 miles
Distance
-50 ft
Descent
00:17:01
Avg time
-52 ft
Altitude change
1,985 ft
Altitude min
2,036 ft
Altitude max
2,036 ft
Altitude start
1,985 ft
Altitude end
-0.6%
Grade
-4.8%
Grade max
1.8%
Grade min
4,587 ft
Distance down
3,970 ft
Distance flat
00:17:01
Avg time
Oconaluftee River Trail Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Gravel Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaFire Mountain Trails
Cherokee, North Carolina -
Difficulty Rating
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Local Popularity30 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 100 in Trail Running
- 80 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeGravel
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DirectionBoth Directions
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
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Land OwnerJeremy Hyatt
The Oconaluftee River Trail is one of two walking paths on which visitors can walk dogs and bicycle. Pets and bicycles are prohibited on all other park trails.
The trail travels 1.5 miles one-way from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the outskirts of the city of Cherokee, NC. It is relatively flat, but does have a few small hills. The trail runs through the forest along side the Oconaluftee River and offers beautiful views of the river.
The Oconaluftee River Trail is frequently used by joggers, walkers, and bicyclists.
source: https://www.nps.gov/
Local Trail Association
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trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 0 rides
All
- 6 rides
- Last: Jun 4, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
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Directions to oconaluftee-river-trail trailhead
(35.513640, -83.306630)
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Nearby Trails
- Smokemont Stables Trail (bmt) 4 miles
- Chairlift 4 miles
- Bradley Fork Trail (bmt) 6 miles
- Balsam Mountain Road 8 miles
- Bunches Creek Road 8 miles
Fire Mountain Trails
- By todd
Trailforks & contributors - #240586 - 1,714 views
Frequently Asked Questions About Oconaluftee River Trail
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Where is Oconaluftee River Trail located?
Oconaluftee River Trail is located in Fire Mountain Trails, Cherokee, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Fire Mountain Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.51364, -83.30663.
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How hard is Oconaluftee River Trail?
Oconaluftee River Trail is rated as White difficulty. The average grade is 0.6%.
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What is the elevation gain for Oconaluftee River Trail?
The trail has 50 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,985 ft to 2,036 ft.
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Is Oconaluftee River Trail a point to point trail?
Oconaluftee River Trail is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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