Spruce Mountain and Pleasant Mountain

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.) and Pleasant Mountain are a good bet. From the trailhead off Route 17, it’s about 1.3 miles to the summit of Spruce Mountain, 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 an unofficial trail up to the summit, which I’ve added to my map.) 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. The first section, after leaving Mt. Pleasant Road, can be grassy and wet.

If you decide to veer off the official trail, be respectful of private property. The trail to the summit is unmarked, but a few ribbons help keep you on the right path. From Mt. Pleasant Street, hike the blue-blazed trail for about 0.5 miles, where you’ll see a well-worn, unmarked trail on your left. The first short section climbs up a footpath. When you reach the multi-use track, turn left, and at the next intersection turn left again. The route will begin to get ledgy. Parts are eroded, and like other places that see four-wheeler traffic, the trail gets messy, with more than one way up. You’ll reach an open ledge with a view, on the right, at about 0.5 miles. Keep going another 0.1 mile for an even more beautiful view from open ledge.

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 the side of Mt. Pleasant Street, close to the kiosk. 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.