Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Glassy Mountain–Glassy Mountain Overlook, 5 sights
3.3 mi · ▲ 607 ft · 1 hr 24 min
Glassy Mountain–Glassy Mountain Overlook, 5 sights is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site near Flat Rock, NC. The route passes Front Lake and Glassy Mountain before reaching Glassy Mountain Overlook at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It climbs 607 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Glassy Mountain–Glassy Mountain Overlook, 5 sights
3.3 mi · ▲ 607 ft · 1 hr 24 min
Elevation 2,166–2,782 ft
Out & Back · Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Trailhead: 35.27330, -82.44511
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 90°F / low 67° · precip 14% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:05 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Front Lake.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Memminger Trail Loop, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Big Glassy Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miPass Glassy Mountain Overlook.
- 50 ftReach Glassy Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Memminger Trail Loop, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 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 1.5 mi in (~54 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
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