Waterrock Knob Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 451.2
Waterrock Knob located at the most southern point of the Blue Ridge Parkway has the highest elevation at 6400 feet for a visitor center and some of the most beautiful panoramic mountain views. Watterrock Knob is located at Milepost 451.2 featuring the last hiking trail along the Parkway as you travel toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an ideal spot to view a sunrise and sunset. Waterrock Knob has long range 360 degree views of many mountain ranges such as the Great Smoky Mountains, Pisgah mountain range, Nantahala mountain range, Cowee mountain range, and the Blue Ridge mountain ranges.
The Waterrock Knob visitor center offers educational displays of the surrounding terrain and stories of the black bear and fir trees. in addition the visitor center has exhibits, a gift shop, and a trail leading to the summit of Waterrock Knob await visitors on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Waterrock Knob gets its name from a natural spring where hunters and farmers came to quench their thirst. While the views from the Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center are quite spectacular, they are even better at the summit; where visibility can be up to 50 miles on a clear day.
Waterrock Knob Trail
The trail to the summit is the highest trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This peak’s elevation is 6,292 feet and is the 16th highest mountain in the Eastern United States. There are fantastic views both east and west from the parking area, ther is also a visitors center and restrooms. Watterrock Knob is rated one of the best places in the North Carolina mountains to watch a sunrise or sunset. The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers as it is easily accessible from the Parkway. A 1.2-mile round trip hike will take you to the top of the summit. The steep climb gains 412 feet in elevation. The first 1/4 mile of the trail is paved, ending at a nice overlook with a small rock wall that you can sit on to catch your breathe. At the top, there are several vantage points for distant views, including the highest peaks in the Smokies. In the valley below is Maggie Valley.
