Waterrock Knob–Waterrock Knob Viewpoint, 5 sights

8.4 mi · ▲ 1,837 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Waterrock Knob–Waterrock Knob Viewpoint, 5 sights is an 8.4-mile out-and-back near Maggie Valley, NC. The route passes Pedestrian Overlook and Waterrock Knob before reaching Waterrock Knob Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 1,837 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 8/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi4,446 – 6,286 ft · steepest grade: 20%8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mountains-to-Sea Trail 35.49373, -83.15470
Nearest town Maggie Valley, NC

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Waterrock Knob–Waterrock Knob Viewpoint, 5 sights

8.4 mi · ▲ 1,837 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Elevation 4,447–6,286 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Mountains-to-Sea Trail · 35.49373, -83.15470

Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 80°F / low 64° · precip 16% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 7:08 AM · sunset 7:57 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NE.
  2. 4 miPass Pedestrian Overlook.
  3. 100 ftTurn left onto Waterrock Knob Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miPass Waterrock Knob Viewpoint.
  5. 250 ftReach Waterrock Knob, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  6. 0.3 miTurn right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading S.
  7. 3.9 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

100% dirt

Weather

FogTemperature 80°F64°
Precip16%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity67%
Rained 0.2″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°60° 12 PM: 2% rain1 PM: 2% rain2 PM: 6% rain3 PM: 7% rain4 PM: 9% rain5 PM: 8% rain6 PM: 16% rain7 PM: 3% rain8 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 7:08 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:57 PM
Sat 81°65° 23%
Sun 76°61° 43%
Mon 70°57° 18%
Tue 75°53°
Wed 77°53°
Thu 82°56° 26%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 7:27 PM for the 7:57 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:18 PM — 5 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead