This white blazed trail follows a ridge line to the Green Knob Lookout Tower at 5,090 feet and provides amazing views of this beautiful mountainous region. The trail is very steep and has very few switchbacks. After about 2.5 miles, several overlooks offer amazing views. The trail gets rocky and some minor scrambling is required. After about 2.8 miles, you will see the Green Knob Lookout tower than can be accessed by a short side trail to the right. From the tower, the trail descends for .5 mile with switchbacks to the Blue Ridge Parkway. About 200 yards to the right (south) is the Bald Knob Ridge overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where parking is available.

Directions: From Burnsville, NC, Travel east on US 19E for about 4.3 miles to an access road to SR 80. Turn right (south) and travel .6 mile and turn right again on SR 80 (south). Follow this road for 11.6 miles to the Mt. Mitchell golf course and turn right on Forest Service Road 472. This road changes to gravel. After it changes, you will arrive at an intersection at which you can go straight or take a right. Turn right on this road (Forest Service Road 472). Go past Black Mountain Campground and a parking lot on the left that has a bulletin board with trail maps and information. Park here. This is the trailhead.

Elevation: 5,100 feet

Elevation Gain: 2,080 feet

Distance: 3.3 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous

Visitor Information