QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: Not sure
- Trail Mileage: ~1.2 miles to summit
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: views
In my map of this connected trail system, Spruce Mountain and Pleasant Mountain are green. The Ragged Mountain trail is blue (and blue-purple). Bald Mountain is orange.
If you are looking for a short hike with views and not many other hikers, Spruce Mountain (973 ft.) is a good bet. From the trailhead off Route 17, it’s about 1.3 miles to the summit, with 630 feet gained in elevation. Along the way, there are a couple of motivating scenic spots.
The hike, though short, is moderately steep, with some clambering up rocks. It is well blazed and easy to follow, so don’t get distracted by the few intersecting unmarked trails that some local people clearly use.
The scrambling begins below the first view at roughly 0.5 miles from the trailhead. At the top of the exposed ledge, the main path curves left, toward Ragged Mountain, although there is a trail to your right that makes a shortcut (it’s marked on my map). If you follow the main path, you’ll make a steep dip and a rebounding ascent to reach, in 0.2 miles, views over Ragged Mountain and to the sea.
From this first major viewpoint, you’ll walk down a small saddle, and in 0.4 miles, reach the side spur to Spruce Mountain summit (or near summit) to your left. The spur, about 0.35 miles, climbs up to ledge where you can enjoy a vista of the sea and Ragged Mountain.
From the intersection below Spruce’s summit, you can continue your hike west over to Pleasant Mountain (1,058 ft.). The official trail bypasses the true summit, but ends at a viewpoint. (There is also a trail up to the summit.) The distance between the Spruce Mountain summit and Pleasant Mountain is about 2.5 miles From the Mt. Pleasant Street parking area/trailhead for Pleasant Mountain, it’s 0.9 miles of steady uphill walking and 500 feet gained in cumulative elevation.
Additionally, the Spruce Mountain trail system on its eastern side links to Ragged and Bald Mountains for a long and beautiful hike.
Directions: For the eastern end of the trail, use the Ragged Mountain parking lot on Route 17. Parking at the western trailhead is along Mt. Pleasant Street where there is an informal parking area that bisects this trail section between Pleasant Mountain and Spruce Mountain. To get here from Route 90, head northwest on Route 17 for 0.4 miles and turn left on Mt. Pleasant Street. Travel 2.3 miles to the vehicle pull-out area on the right shoulder.
