AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Grassy Knob Trail–Laurel Branch Road, 4 sights

6.9 mi · ▲ 1,448 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Grassy Knob Trail–Laurel Branch Road, 4 sights is a 6.9-mile out-and-back near Avery Creek, NC. It climbs 1,448 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,198 – 2,940 ft · steepest grade: 23%7.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Shut-In Trail 35.46595, -82.62912
Nearest town Avery Creek, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Grassy Knob Trail–Laurel Branch Road, 4 sights

6.9 mi · ▲ 1,448 ft · 3 hr 1 min

Elevation 2,200–2,940 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Shut-In Trail · 35.46595, -82.62912

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Shut-In Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.5 miTurn left onto Grassy Knob Trail, heading NW.
  3. 150 ftContinue straight onto Stairs (Upper), heading N.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left onto Stairs (Lower), heading NW.
  5. 250 ftTurn left onto Pine Tree Loop, heading NW.
  6. 0.6 miTurn left onto Pine Tree Connector, heading W.
  7. 200 ftTurn right onto Explorer Loop, heading SW.
  8. 500 ftContinue straight onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading NW.
  9. 450 ftSharp left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading NW.
  10. 0.3 miBear right onto Laurel Branch Road, heading SW.
  11. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lower Sidehill Trail, heading NW.
  12. 300 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Branch Road, heading W.
  13. 0.6 miBear right, heading W.
  14. 0.3 miTurn right onto Sidehill Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Little Hickory Top, heading N.
  16. 100 ftReach Grassy Knob Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 100 ftContinue straight onto Sidehill Trail, heading N.
  18. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 0.3 miBear left onto Laurel Branch Road, heading NW.
  20. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Lower Sidehill Trail, heading SE.
  21. 300 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Branch Road, heading SE.
  22. 0.2 miBear left onto Bent Creek Gap Road, heading SE.
  23. 0.3 miSharp right onto Explorer Loop Connector, heading NE.
  24. 450 ftContinue straight onto Explorer Loop, heading NE.
  25. 500 ftTurn left onto Pine Tree Connector, heading N.
  26. 200 ftTurn right onto Pine Tree Loop, heading N.
  27. 0.6 miTurn right onto Stairs (Lower), heading N.
  28. 250 ftTurn right onto Stairs (Upper), heading NE.
  29. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Grassy Knob Trail, heading E.
  30. 150 ftTurn right onto Shut-In Trail, heading N.
  31. 0.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/grassy-knob-trail-out-back

Trail surface

65% dirt35% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 7:54 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Shut-In Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Avery Creek, North Carolina