Green Knob Tower Trail

File:* Trail Name Green Knob Tower Trail Nearest City * State North Carolina Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Medium Hiking Time 44 Hours <br />0.25 Days <br />240 Min <br /> Distance, round-trip 66 mi <br />9.656 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation ~2,400"~" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point 5,0805,080 Feet <br />1,693.333 Yards <br />1,548.384 Meters <br /> Nearest Medical * Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":35.7510307499999981928340275771915912628173828125,"lon":-82.22009595574019158448209054768085479736328125,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

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

From Johnson City, TN

1. Take I-26 south to NC Exit 9.
2. Take US-19E east for 21 miles to Micaville.
3. Take NC-80 south for 12 miles.
4. Turn right/NW onto Toe River Road.
5. After ~3 miles, find small parking area and trailhead information sign.

Route Description

The trail to the Green Knob fire tower can be access from either end.

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 yellow blazed trail for half mile up 340 feet to the ridgetop and tower.

The north trail starts near Black Mountain campground on South Toe River Road. It proceeds up the yellow blazed forest service trail along Lost Cove Ridge to Green Knob and the tower. The infobox information is for this direction.

Typical Conditions

Per another trail review 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.

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)

Misc. Information

No facilities at the parking lot. Bring your own water.

Maps

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(A) 35.751137, -82.220009 Parking and north trailhead (B) 35.719832, -82.223874 Green Knob Fire Tower </googlemap>