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{{Trail
<!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template.  Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. -->
|City=Old Fort
{{Infobox Trail
|Trail Marking=White Diamond
                    | Image Name = *
|Trail Use=Hiking
                    | City = *
|Trail Features=Vistas, Mountains
                    | State = North Carolina
|Difficulty Rating=Medium
                    | Trail Use = {{Hike}}
|Hike Time=4 hrs
                    | Difficulty Rating = Medium
|Trail Distance=2.672 mi
                    | Hike Time = 4
|Round Trip Distance=5.3 mi
                    | Distance = 6
|Trail Type=In-and-Out
                    | Elevation Gain = ~2,400
|High Point=5,060 ft
                    | High Point = 5,080
|Low Point=2,995 ft
                    | Latitude = N35°45.068
|Elevation Gain=2,271 ft
                    | Longitude = W82°13.201
|Elevation Loss=207 ft
                    | Medical = *
|Elevation Change Direction=North-to-South
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
|Parking location=35.71962, -82.22391
                    | googlemap =
|Trailhead location=35.71962, -82.22391
<googlemap lat="35.719620" lon="-82.223907"  zoom="8" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
35.719620,-82.223907,Green Knob Tower Trail
</googlemap>
}}
}}
{{Trail Map}}
<!-- End Infobox template table-->


__TOC__
<!-- Start of Main Page -->


== Trail Overview ==
== Trail Overview ==
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
Seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell, the views from the Green Knob Lookout Tower at 5,080 ft elevation are great, especially of the Black Mountains.
Seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell, the views from the Green Knob Lookout Tower at 5,080 ft elevation are great, especially of the Black Mountains.


== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Johnson City, TN to the north trailhead:
From Gate City, VA
#Take I-26 south to NC Exit 9.
#Take VA 71 east out of town.
#Take US-19E east for 21 miles to Micaville.
#Turn on VA 72 and proceed north for 11 miles to and through Ft. Blackmore.
#Take NC-80 south for 12 miles.
#Turn left/north onto VA 619 (Big Stoney Creek Road).
#Turn right/NW onto Toe River Road.
#Cross Stoney Creek and swing right with VA 619.
#After ~3 miles, find small parking area and trailhead information sign.
#After 4.3 miles on VA 619, enter the National Forest.
 
#Turn left past Devil Fork Fishing/Hunting Club (sign) onto a gravel road (FS Road 213/Alley Valley Rd).
The southern trailhead is at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 350.4 for the Green Knob Overlook.
#After 0.25 mile on the gravel road, turn left on a narrow right-of-way between a garage and small white house (FS Road 619).
#Parking area is in about 0.25 miles at trailhead.
Other visitors have noted that if your vehicle doesn't have good ground clearance (ie, is a sedan), you may want to park at the bottom of the hill near the creek.


== Route Description==
== Route Description==
[[File:Green knob tower trail profile.png|thumb|right]]
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
The trail to the Green Knob fire tower can be accessed from either end.
Hike up Devil Fork from parking area and loop up on mountain and back. There are several fords (at least ten). There is an interesting pool just downstream from the Devil’s Bathtub. On trail above the pool, a sign points downstream to the actual Devils Bathtub pool. To make a longer hike, continue upstream, then follow trail up right side of mountain. This eventually levels out and circles back to the old road leading back to the parking area.


<!-- Observed that the yellow trail blazes have been replaced with white diamonds 7/4/2016 -->
The south trailhead starts at the Green Knob Overlook (4760' elevation) at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 350.4.  The NFS trail sign is 100 yards north of the overlook on the opposite side of the road.  Follow the narrow white diamond blazed trail for half mile up 340 feet to the summit and tower.
The north trailhead begins near Black Mountain campground on South Toe River Road.  It proceeds up the white diamond blazed forest service trail along Lost Cove Ridge to Green Knob and the tower.  The infobox information is for this direction.


== Typical Conditions ==
== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Narrow dirt trail is moderately used and somewhat steep. Leaf season for color is typically around end of September to late October.  No facilities at the parking lot.  Bring your own water.
Per another trail review [http://www.traillink.com/trail/devils-fork-loop-trail.aspx site], "Although the trail follows yellow blazes for its entire 7 miles, poor maintenance means it is often difficult to find the blazes-and the path, which, in several places, scrambles over large rocks or up very steep cliff faces."


==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
No fees or permits required for day hiking. No bikes, ATV, or horses allowed on this trail.
No fees or permits required for day hiking or camping. Managed by Clinch Ranger District (Wise, VA) Tel: 276-328-2931 (M-F 8AM-4:30PM)


== After the Hike ==
== After the Hike ==
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
Black Mountain Campground at the north trailhead has 43 campsites for $19/day.  Open April 14, 2011 - October 31, 2011, with 2012 season to be similar mid-April to end of October.  Check in/out time is 2PM. Drinking water, flush toilets, and showers available. [http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110811&ttype=recarea&recid=48522&actid=31&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110130000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&cid=FSE_003705&pname=National+Forests+in+North+Carolina+-+Black+Mountain+Campground FS website]


No camping allowed along the actual trail.


== Misc. Information ==
== Misc. Information ==
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? -->
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? -->
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the 32' high Green Knob Fire Tower in 1932 atop the 5,080' summit. The tower has great views of the Black Mountains, Mt. Mitchell, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Currently, the top cab is locked for restoration, but the access stairs off some height to view the valley.
No facilities at the parking lot.  Bring your own water.
 
== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
 
 
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="35.719620" lon="-82.223907" type="terrain" zoom="13" width="725" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png">
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Green Knob Tower Trail.kml
 
(A) 35.751137, -82.220009
Parking and north trailhead
(G)
</googlemap>


== Photos ==
== Photos ==
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
<gallery>
{{Map Marker
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below.  Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
|Icon Type=Parking
 
|Marker Title=Parking and north trailhead
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
|Marker Location=35.751137, -82.220009
</gallery>
}}
 
{{Map Marker
<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. -->
|Icon Type=Photo spot
[[Category:North Carolina]] [[Category:Medium]] [[Category:Overlooks]]
|Marker Title=Green Knob Fire Tower
|Marker Location=35.719832, -82.223874
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Parking
|Marker Title=Parking at Green Knob Overlook
|Marker Location=35.7177, -82.2228
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Black Mountain Campground
|Marker Location=35.751748, -82.221637
}}
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