Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 7 sights
15.3 mi · ▲ 4,746 ft · 7 hr 28 min
Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 7 sights is a 15.3-mile out-and-back in Asheville Watershed near Montreat, NC. The route passes Pots Cove Gap, Big Slaty and Brushy Knob. It climbs 4,746 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 7 sights
15.3 mi · ▲ 4,746 ft · 7 hr 28 min
Elevation 2,940–5,253 ft
Out & Back · Asheville Watershed
Trailhead: Graybeard Trail · 35.65954, -82.29599
Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 86°F / low 72° · precip 23% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Graybeard Trail, heading E.
- 1.4 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Graybeard Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miPass Big Slaty.
- 0.1 miBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 2 miPass Brushy Knob.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Big Piney Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right onto Lower Piney Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miReach Brushy Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Big Piney Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn right onto West Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 2.1 miBear right onto Graybeard Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Graybeard Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.5 mi in (~178 min). Leave by 4:36 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Graybeard Trail Trailhead
- Pots Cove–Pots Cove Gap, 3 saddles 2.8 mi · ▲ 914 ft
- Long Gap–Graybeard Trail, 3 sights 4.3 mi · ▲ 1,104 ft
- Rocky Head–Long Gap, 3 summits 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,368 ft
- Graybeard Falls–Pots Cove Gap, 3 saddles 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,496 ft
- Pots Cove–Pots Cove Gap, 3 saddles 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,519 ft
- Walker's Knob–Walkers Knob, 4 summits 7.3 mi · ▲ 1,809 ft
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