Rocky Head–Rocky Knob, 11 saddles is a 15.4-mile out-and-back in Rocky Knob near Montreat, NC. The route passes Rainbow Gap, Shelter View, Buck Gap and 4 more before reaching Rocky Knob at the turnaround, 7.7 miles in. It climbs 3,468 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi2,809 – 5,263 ft · steepest grade: 29%16.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Old Mitchell Toll Road 35.62976, -82.29759
Nearest town Montreat, NC
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Rocky Head–Rocky Knob, 11 saddles
15.4 mi · ▲ 3,468 ft · 6 hr 52 min
Elevation 2,810–5,261 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Knob
Trailhead: Old Mitchell Toll Road · 35.62976, -82.29759
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:51 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 1.5 miBear right onto Old Trestle Road, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Rainbow Gap.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Lookout Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Old Trestle Road, heading E.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Buck Gap Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Shelter View.
- 450 ftPass Buck Gap.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miPass Sourwood Gap.
- 0.5 miPass Rocky Head.
- 0.2 miPass Long Gap.
- 50 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.
- 3.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Rocky Knob Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miPass Rocky Knob.
- 250 ftReach Rocky Head, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading NW.
- 3.1 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Old Trestle Road, heading W.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto East Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Buck Gap Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Old Trestle Road, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Lookout Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Old Trestle Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Old Mitchell Toll Road, heading S.
- 1.4 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
60% dirt40% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:51 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.7 mi in (~269 min). Leave by 3:02 PM for the 7:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:38 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Old Mitchell Toll Road Trailhead
- Old Mitchell Toll Road 3.6 mi · ▲ 494 ft
- Rainbow Gap & Lookout Trail via Old Mitchell Toll Road 3.9 mi · ▲ 839 ft
- Shelter View–Rainbow Gap, 3 saddles 4.7 mi · ▲ 707 ft
- Rainbow Mountain Trail via Old Mitchell Toll Road 5 mi · ▲ 1,331 ft
- Boggs Bunion–Shelter View, 6 saddles 5.5 mi · ▲ 934 ft
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