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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

Leave it better than you found it.

Waterrock Knob viewed from the Plott Balsams overlook, May 2017 3

Hike

Waterrock Knob Trail

Summits Waterrock Knob
Inside Blue Ridge Parkway

1.0 mi out & back · 467 ft gain · 6,289 ft high point · Easy

In Blue Ridge Parkway · NC · OpenStreetMap contributors

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Waterrock Knob Trail summits Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1.0 mile out and back at 6,289 feet.

Elevation

467 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

7.5 mi from the trailhead
Balsam Mountain Campground
Campground · TN

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

19 mi from you
Baxter Creek Trail
- Summits Mount Sterling
- Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 4,186 ft of climbing
12.0 mi out & back · 4,186 ft gain · Very hard
Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp under a mile away

Out: 460 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Pedestrian OverlookDestination · 0.2 mi in
Waterrock KnobDestination · 0.5 mi in
ViewpointDestination · 0.5 mi in
Browning Knob Overlook (MP 451.2)Nearby · 0.0 mi in
Cranberry Ridge Overlook (MP 452.1)Nearby · 0.3 mi in
Woolyback Overlook (MP 452.3)Nearby · 0.4 mi in
ViewpointNearby · 0.5 mi in
Browning KnobNearby · 0.5 mi in
Yellow Face Overlook (MP 450.2)Nearby · 0.5 mi in

Nearby reading

Waterrock Knob

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, licensed as shown on each photo. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 1.0 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 467 ft round trip
High point: 6,289 ft
Low point: 5,822 ft
Difficulty: EasyFrom 1.0 mi and 467 ft of climbing
Managed by: OpenStreetMap contributors
State: NC
Camps within 15 mi: 16
Trailhead: 35.4601° N · 83.1405° W

Get directions Open the map

7.5 mi from the trailhead

Balsam Mt. Campground

Campground

7.5 mi from the trailhead

Balsam Mountain Campground

Campground · NC

21 mi from you

Alum Cave Trail

Passes Cliff Top
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,105 ft of climbing

9.8 mi out & back · 3,105 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 5 mi away

Chimney Tops Trail

Summits Chimney Tops
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1,416 ft of climbing

3.7 mi out & back · 1,416 ft gain · Moderate

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 4 mi away

Old Butt Knob Trail

Passes Old Butt Knob
Inside Shining Rock Wilderness
3,433 ft of climbing

8.4 mi out & back · 3,433 ft gain · Very hard

Shining Rock Wilderness · Camp 2 mi away

Deep Creek Trail

Ends at Juney Whank Falls
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
4,115 ft of climbing

13.9 mi one way · 4,115 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp under a mile away

Cliff Top Trail

Passes Cliff Top
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park
3,497 ft of climbing

10.8 mi out & back · 3,497 ft gain · Very hard

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Camp 5 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

White Rocks Falls Trail
- Passes White Rock Falls
- Inside Blue Ridge Parkway
- 1,477 ft of climbing
4.6 mi out & back · 1,477 ft gain · Moderate
Blue Ridge Parkway · Camp 2 mi away
White Rock Falls
- Passes White Rock Falls
- Inside Blue Ridge Parkway
- 1,139 ft of climbing
3.7 mi out & back · 1,139 ft gain · Moderate
Blue Ridge Parkway · Camp 2 mi away
Tanawha Trail
- Ends at Price Lake
- Inside Blue Ridge Parkway
- 2,753 ft of climbing
13.0 mi one way · 2,753 ft gain · Very hard
Blue Ridge Parkway · Camp under a mile away
Pilot Rock Trail
- Passes Little Bald Mountain
- Inside Blue Ridge Parkway
- 2,197 ft of climbing
6.3 mi out & back · 2,197 ft gain · Hard
Blue Ridge Parkway · Camp under a mile away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today57°53°Rain Likely
Thu60°47°Widespread Fog
Fri57°39°Sunny
Sat50°36°Sunny
Sun50°36°Mostly Sunny
Mon51°38°Sunny
Tue54°39°Sunny

Today: Rain Likely · wind 8 to 13 mph S

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Good
AT&TLTE · Fair
T-Mobile5G · Good

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain