Green Knob Tower Trail

File:* Trail Name Green Knob Tower Trail Nearest City Old Fort 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 ~2,000"~" 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 Marion, NC 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 to the north trailhead:

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.

The southern trailhead is at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 350.4 for the Green Knob Overlook.

Route Description

The trail to the Green Knob fire tower can be accessed 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 summit and tower.

The north trailhead begins 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

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.

Fees, Permits, etc.

No fees or permits required for day hiking. No bikes, ATV, or horses allowed on this trail.

Misc. Information

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.

Maps

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(A) 35.751137, -82.220009 Parking and north trailhead (B) 35.719832, -82.223874 Green Knob Fire Tower (A) 35.7177, -82.2228 Parking at Green Knob Overlook (H) 35.751748, -82.221637 Black Mountain Campground </googlemap>