Asheville Watershed

Brushy Knob–Big Piney Ridge Trail, 4 sights

6.2 mi · ▲ 2,850 ft · 3 hr 30 min

Brushy Knob–Big Piney Ridge Trail, 4 sights is a 6.2-mile out-and-back in Asheville Watershed near Montreat, NC. The route reaches Brushy Knob. It climbs 2,850 ft, with sections as steep as 44% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,749 – 4,164 ft · steepest grade: 44%6.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lower Piney Trail 35.64936, -82.30947
Nearest town Montreat, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Brushy Knob–Big Piney Ridge Trail, 4 sights

6.2 mi · ▲ 2,850 ft · 3 hr 30 min

Elevation 2,748–4,162 ft

Out & Back · Asheville Watershed

Trailhead: Lower Piney Trail · 35.64936, -82.30947

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 88°F / low 69° · precip 10% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lower Piney Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.6 miTurn left onto Big Piney Ridge Trail, heading N.
  3. 1 miTurn left onto Stomping Knob Trail, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftPass Brushy Knob.
  5. 1.5 miReach Brushy Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 1.5 miTurn right onto Big Piney Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  7. 1 miTurn right onto Lower Piney Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 88°F69°
Precip10%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity63%
Hourly temperature
90°65°
Sunrise 7:05 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:53 PM
Sun 83°65° 68%
Mon 72°62° 68%
Tue 76°57°
Wed 84°59°
Thu 87°65°
Fri 80°64° 37%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~73 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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