Rocky Knob

Glass Rock Knob–Rocky Knob, 4 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 4,180 ft · 7 hr 13 min

Glass Rock Knob–Rocky Knob, 4 sights is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Rocky Knob near Graphite, NC. The route passes Glass Rock Knob before reaching Rocky Knob at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 4,180 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 87/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi1,910 – 5,263 ft · steepest grade: 28%15.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Star Gap 35.65680, -82.24835
Nearest town Graphite, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Glass Rock Knob–Rocky Knob, 4 sights

15.4 mi · ▲ 4,180 ft · 7 hr 13 min

Elevation 1,910–5,261 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Knob

Trailhead: Star Gap · 35.65680, -82.24835

Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 91°F / low 74° · precip 21% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Star Gap, heading N.
  2. 1.6 miBear right onto Heartbreak Ridge, heading NE.
  3. 3.8 miPass Glass Rock Knob.
  4. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading W.
  5. 1.2 miSharp right onto Rocky Knob Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miPass Rocky Knob.
  7. 50 ftReach Glass Rock Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.3 miSharp left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
  9. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Heartbreak Ridge, heading E.
  10. 3.8 miBear left onto Star Gap, heading S.
  11. 1.5 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

3% dirt97% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 91°F74°
Feels like85°Precip21%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity65%
Rained 0.5″ 4 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
95°70° 12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 5% rain2 PM: 14% rain3 PM: 21% rain4 PM: 20% rain5 PM: 19% rain6 PM: 11% rain7 PM: 6% rain8 PM: 2% rain9 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sat 93°75°
Sun 90°69° 68%
Mon 75°66° 56%
Tue 78°61°
Wed 87°64°
Thu 88°69°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.7 mi in (~297 min). Leave by 2:37 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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