Waterrock Knob

Waterrock Knob[1] is a mountain peak in the U.S. state of North Carolina.[2] It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States.[3]

Waterrock Knob
Waterrock Knob viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Highest point
Elevation6,292 ft (1,918 m)
Prominence1,947 ft (593 m)
Coordinates35.464268°N 83.137643°W / 35.464268; -83.137643
Geography
LocationHaywood / Jackson Counties, North Carolina, U.S.
Parent rangePlott Balsams
Blue Ridge Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Sylva North
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers, as it is easily accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. A visitors' center is located near its summit and a hiking trail leads to its top. The hiking trail and visitors' center are staffed and maintained by the National Park Service, part of the United States Department of the Interior.

Name

Waterrock Knob is named as such because of a spring located near the summit where hunters would refill their canteens.[4][5]

Geography

With an elevation of 6,292 feet (1,918 m), Waterrock Knob is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 13th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States if using a 160 feet (49 m) prominence rule.[3][6]

The mountain is split by both Haywood and Jackson counties in the western mountains of North Carolina. The mountain's summit is located within the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service unit. Cherokee is located about 10 miles (16 km) to the west, while Richland Balsam is located about 10 miles (16 km) to the southeast.[7]

Hiking

Waterrock Knob's summit can be accessed from the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, located a milepost 451.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This 0.6 miles (0.97 km) long trail ascends over 400 feet (120 m) from visitor center's parking lot and is paved for the first quarter mile.[8][9]

Images
  • From the visitor center parking lot
    From the visitor center parking lot
  • Taken from the summit of Waterrock Knob
    Taken from the summit of Waterrock Knob
  • View of the Waterrock Knob parking lot and the Blue Ridge Parkway from the summit of Waterrock Knob
    View of the Waterrock Knob parking lot and the Blue Ridge Parkway from the summit of Waterrock Knob
  • Waterrock Knob Trail
    Waterrock Knob Trail

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Waterrock Knob
  2. "Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: Waterrock Knob". Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  3. "Peakbagger.com - Southern Appalachian 6000-foot Peaks". Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  4. Powell, William. The North Carolina Gazetteer, 2nd Ed. Univ of North Carolina Press. (2010). pp. 551. ISBN 9780807898291.
  5. Lemon, Cindy. Southern Appalachian Day Hikes. (2015). ISBN 9781329597389.
  6. "Waterrock Knob, North Carolina". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  7. United States Geological Survey (10 September 2017). Waterrock Knob, NC quadrangle (Topographic map). Reston, VA: United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 10 September 2017 – via TopoQuest.
  8. Waterrock Knob, Milepost 451.2. Virtual Blue Ridge. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  9. Jabado, Salwa. Fodor's The Carolinas and Georgia. (2009). Fodor's Travel Publications. pp. 169. ISBN 9781400008087.
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