The Shut-In Ridge is a historic trail, originally built by George Vaderbilt to access his hunting lodge near the top of mount pisgah. He reportedly named it based on the long segments of rhondodendron tree canopies which gave the trail a feeling of being "shut in". The trail has for many years been the site of the Shut In Trail race, a legendary local trail raceand proving ground since the 1980s, which is rumored to now be defunct due to new blue ridge parkway regulation changes. The original course of the race was exactly as shown here, but due to size, the beginning of the course was changed to allow for early passing. This course runs the enitrety of the Shut-in trail, beginning at the Shut In sign just off the blue ridge arkway, and ending at the Shut in sign at the mount pisgah parking lot. Runners can expect a long, progressively steepening ascent with frequent punchy steep descents aong the way. The trail is entirely singletrack.
