AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Asheville Watershed

Walker's Knob–Brushy Knob, 7 summits

8.8 mi · ▲ 3,083 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Walker's Knob–Brushy Knob, 7 summits is an 8.8-mile out-and-back in Asheville Watershed near Montreat, NC. The route passes Brushy Knob, Big Slaty and Walker's Knob before reaching Walkers Knob at the turnaround, 4.4 miles in. It climbs 3,083 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi2,940 – 5,253 ft · steepest grade: 33%8.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lower Piney Trail 35.64936, -82.30947
Nearest town Montreat, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Walker's Knob–Brushy Knob, 7 summits

8.8 mi · ▲ 3,083 ft · 4 hr 28 min

Elevation 2,940–5,253 ft

Out & Back · Asheville Watershed

Trailhead: Lower Piney Trail · 35.64936, -82.30947

Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 86°F / low 70° · precip 25% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:54 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lower Piney Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.6 miTurn left onto Big Piney Ridge Trail, heading N.
  3. 1 miTurn right onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
  4. 50 ftPass Brushy Knob.
  5. 2.1 miPass Big Slaty.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Graybeard Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Walker's Knob Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.1 miPass Walkers Knob.
  9. 100 ftReach Walker's Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Graybeard Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.5 miBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  12. 2.1 miTurn left onto Big Piney Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  13. 1 miTurn right onto Lower Piney Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.6 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/walkers-knob-brushy-knob-out-back-7-summits-14-km-4075

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 86°F70°
Precip25%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity72%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°70° 12 PM: 1% rain1 PM: 6% rain2 PM: 14% rain3 PM: 24% rain4 PM: 25% rain5 PM: 23% rain6 PM: 10% rain7 PM: 6% rain8 PM: 2% rain9 PM: 1% rain
Sunrise 7:04 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sat 89°71°
Sun 87°66° 66%
Mon 72°63° 47%
Tue 75°58°
Wed 84°61°
Thu 85°66°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~139 min). Leave by 5:15 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lower Piney Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Montreat, North Carolina