Rhododendron Bluff Hike Professional Review and Guide

"This loop penetrates one of the deepest valleys in the Triangle area. Here New Hope Creek cuts a mini gorge, flowing as a rocky, rapid-filled waterway beneath steep Piney Mountain. Start your hike on wide fire roads leading to New Hope Creek, where the New Hope Creek South Trail provides a challenging singletrack path.

Hike along the rugged and stony stream with bordering rocky flats that resemble watersheds of the Southern Appalachians. Come upon the base of Rhododendron Bluff, a steep, evergreen-cloaked hill and sheer rock cliff towering over New Hope Creek. Leave the creek, using a combination of forest roads and trails to complete the loop."

--Johnny Molloy , Best Hikes Near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill (Falcon Guides).