Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 12 summits
15.5 mi · ▲ 4,502 ft · 7 hr 25 min
Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 12 summits is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Asheville Watershed near Ridgecrest, NC. The route passes Boggs Bunion, Buck Gap, Sourwood Gap and 4 more before reaching Brushy Knob at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 4,502 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Brushy Knob–Big Slaty, 12 summits
15.5 mi · ▲ 4,502 ft · 7 hr 25 min
Elevation 3,248–5,253 ft
Out & Back · Asheville Watershed
Trailhead: Adventure Trail · 35.63253, -82.27142
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:51 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Adventure Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miPass Boggs Bunion.
- 50 ftBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 450 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Sourwood Gap.
- 0.5 miPass Rocky Head.
- 0.2 miPass Long Gap.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading NE.
- 0.7 miPass Pots Cove Gap.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Graybeard Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miPass Big Slaty.
- 350 ftBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 2.1 miReach Brushy Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.1 miBear right onto Graybeard Trail, heading NE.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SE.
- 1.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading SW.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Adventure Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Rhododendron Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Adventure Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftArrive 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 6.2 mi in (~231 min). Leave by 3:40 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Adventure Trail Trailhead
- Lookout Mountain–Rainbow Gap, 3 summits 4 mi · ▲ 1,429 ft
- Crestridge Lake–Rattlesnake Trail, 3 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 1,435 ft
- Buck Gap–Adventure Trail, 4 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 3,717 ft
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