Waterrock Knob
is a mountain peak in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
North Carolina
North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
.
It is the highest peak in the
Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States.
The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers, as it is easily accessible from the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...
. 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
The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...
, part of the
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the management and conservation ...
.
Name
Waterrock Knob is named as such because of a
spring located near the summit where hunters would refill their canteens.
[Powell, William. ''The North Carolina Gazetteer, 2nd Ed.'' Univ of North Carolina Press. (2010). pp. 551. .][Lemon, Cindy. ''Southern Appalachian Day Hikes.'' (2015). .]
Geography
With an elevation of , Waterrock Knob is the highest peak in the
Plott Balsams and is the 13th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States if using a prominence rule.
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
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...
National Park Service unit.
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...
is located about to the west, while
Richland Balsam is located about to the southeast.
Hiking
Waterrock Knob's summit can be accessed from the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, located a milepost 451.2 on the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...
. This long trail ascends over from visitor center's parking lot and is paved for the first quarter mile.
[Waterrock Knob, Milepost 451.2]
Virtual Blue Ridge. Retrieved 10 September 2017.[Jabado, Salwa. ''Fodor's The Carolinas and Georgia.'' (2009). Fodor's Travel Publications. pp. 169. .]
Images
Image:Waterrock_Knob_NC.jpg , From the visitor center parking lot
Image:Looking south from the summit of Waterrock Knob.jpg , Taken from the summit of Waterrock Knob
Image:View_wrn03.jpg , View of the Waterrock Knob parking lot and the Blue Ridge Parkway from the summit of Waterrock Knob
Image:18-23-059-waterrock.jpg, Waterrock Knob Trail
See also
*
List of mountains in North Carolina
This article lists notable mountains in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
Highest mountains
The following sortable table lists the 20 topographic elevation, highest summit (topography), mountain peaks of North Carolina with at least of topograp ...
References
Mountains of North Carolina
Southern Sixers
Landmarks in North Carolina
Protected areas of Jackson County, North Carolina
Protected areas of Haywood County, North Carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway
Landforms of Jackson County, North Carolina
Mountains of Haywood County, North Carolina
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