I've always called this the "best bang for your buck" hike. It's fairly short, has spectacular views along the way and feels "off the beaten path" even though it is right across the valley from Elk Knob State Park.
Snake Mountain is an Amphibolite mountain north of Boone NC. The mountain has two distinct summits.
The parking area is a small gravel lot across from the start of the trail.
There is a large gate that you have to crawl under to start this hike. The gate is not posted Private Property.
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class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Parking Area.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Parking_Area.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Parking\n","link":"","lat":36.3407602699000022994368919171392917633056640625,"lon":-81.6960858789999946338866720907390117645263671875,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerA.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaque for Council Main\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Plaque.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Plaque.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Plaque for Council Main\n","link":"","lat":36.34254562999999649264282197691500186920166015625,"lon":-81.7024248400000061565151554532349109649658203125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking towards the Peak\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain The Peak.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_The_Peak.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Looking towards the Peak\n","link":"","lat":36.34261219999999781293809064663946628570556640625,"lon":-81.7024350100000020802326616831123828887939453125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EValley between Snake Mountain and Elk Knob\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Elk Knob.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Elk_Knob.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Valley between Snake Mountain and Elk Knob\n","link":"","lat":36.34220370999999971672878018580377101898193359375,"lon":-81.702940729999994573518051765859127044677734375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWeather Pole\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Pole.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Pole.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Weather Pole\n","link":"","lat":36.34200405029999814132679603062570095062255859375,"lon":-81.703965302000000292537151835858821868896484375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESunalei Preserve\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Sunalei Preserve.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Sunalei_Preserve.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Sunalei Preserve\n","link":"","lat":36.34289657650000293642733595333993434906005859375,"lon":-81.70590050900000278488732874393463134765625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENorth Summit\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain North Summit.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_North_Summit.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"North Summit\n","link":"","lat":36.34031243999999816196577739901840686798095703125,"lon":-81.7054996699999946940806694328784942626953125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESnake Mountain / North Peak (5,522 ft)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Spike.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Spike.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Snake Mountain / North Peak (5,522 ft)\n","link":"","lat":36.33809128789999931541387923061847686767578125,"lon":-81.706193592000005310183041729032993316650390625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerP.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESouth Summit\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain South Summit.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_South_Summit.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"South Summit\n","link":"","lat":36.337727929999999787469278089702129364013671875,"lon":-81.7064541799999943805232760496437549591064453125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESnake Mountain / South Peak (5,593 ft)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Snake Mountain / South Peak (5,593 ft)\n","link":"","lat":36.33078787849999713444049120880663394927978515625,"lon":-81.7077478979999938246692181564867496490478515625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerP.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElk Knob\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain View Elk Knob.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Elk_Knob.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Elk Knob\n","link":"","lat":36.33410605000000259678927250206470489501953125,"lon":-81.707179980000006480622687377035617828369140625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERich Mountain\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain Rich Mountain.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_Rich_Mountain.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Rich Mountain\n","link":"","lat":36.32935321000000072899638325907289981842041015625,"lon":-81.707719319999995377656887285411357879638671875,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMountains over Boone NC\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AM Snake Mountain View Meadow.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg/150px-AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg/225px-AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg/300px-AM_Snake_Mountain_View_Meadow.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Mountains over Boone NC\n","link":"","lat":36.32834996999999788158675073646008968353271484375,"lon":-81.7072094100000043681575334630906581878662109375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"},{"text":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElk Knob (5,540 ft)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:EKSP_placemarker.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"EKSP placemarker.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/EKSP_placemarker.jpg/150px-EKSP_placemarker.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/EKSP_placemarker.jpg/225px-EKSP_placemarker.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/EKSP_placemarker.jpg/300px-EKSP_placemarker.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Elk Knob (5,540 ft)\n","link":"","lat":36.32719999999999771489456179551780223846435546875,"lon":-81.6765999999999934289007796905934810638427734375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerP.png"},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElk Knob State Park Office\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Elk Knob State Park Office\n","link":"","lat":36.33299275760000313084674417041242122650146484375,"lon":-81.6942716509999939944464131258428096771240234375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGate\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Gate\n","link":"","lat":36.34117048809999772629453218542039394378662109375,"lon":-81.6966402160000058074729167856276035308837890625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"}]}