Hiking to the summit of Waterrock Knob is no easy feat. But even the views from the parking lot make this stop a must on your Blue Ridge Parkway adventure.
UPDATE 06-27-2023: The plane wreckage mentioned in this blog post is no longer here. Park authorities have removed the remains of the plane at the wreck site because the hike to the plane was becoming too dangerous. Some will find this news sad, while others will understand that this is actually a good thing. There’s a lot that goes into making safe and sustainable hiking trails. As you’ll read in this blog post, the trail to the plane wreck was not safe or sustainable at all. In the long run, it is better that they removed the plane so that people will stay safer on prepared hiking surfaces instead of hiking on unstable trail. Learn more about everything that goes into building safe and sustainable hiking trails in my trail building volunteer blog post.
Waterrock Knob is a beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway destination all on its own. Views from the parking lot, hiking trails, and even a visitor center make this a must-see stop on your Blue Ridge Parkway list. But there’s more here than meets the eye. Continue reading to learn more about this scenic stop and tips for hiking the trail.
Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Waterrock Knob is located in western North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s located on the edge of Jackson County and Haywood County, just above Maggie Valley, at milepost 451.2 on the parkway. Depending on where you’re starting in the park, Waterrock Knob is about an hour drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park making this a great spot to add to your travel list and get a scenic drive in on the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Waterrock Knob visitor center is actually the highest visitor center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sitting at 5,820 feet above sea level, this spot is also popular for catching a sunrise or sunset (which I need to try next time I go). There’s plenty of parking spots, picnic tables, the visitor center, and restrooms (no plumbing). But the main thing is there’s miles upon miles of views from opposite sides of the large parking area. This place is unmatched when it comes to seeing views in almost any direction on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Waterrock Knob Hike to the Summit
Want to hike to another view? Waterrock Knob is best known for the hiking trail to its summit. This half mile trail climbs all the way to the peak. The beginning portion of the trail, although still steep, is paved in between stair sections. About halfway up though, the trail transitions to a dirt trail with rock steps. Finding the summit is easy as the trail turns towards a rocky bluff. From here, you can see some awesome views…I think. Unfortunately, when we went, it had been raining so the view was blocked by the clouds. Even though this was disappointing, we could tell this hike is well worth the climb in clear weather.
Plane Wreck at Waterrock Knob
One of the reasons we did this hike was to see this old plane crash site. There’s another trail connected to the Waterrock Knob Trail that starts near the summit. It’s a challenging hike with many steep climbs and descents along the slippery slope of the mountainside. What awaits you at the end is an old Cessna that wrecked back in 1983. Many people visit Waterrock Knob just to see this unique piece of sad history. It’s a sad sight to behold, knowing that both people aboard died from the crash. But on the other hand, it’s not every day that you see old plane wreckage in the woods, and I believe that’s what makes this spot so popular.
As I said in the update at the beginning of this post, this plane wreckage is no longer here. The park authorities had it removed because the hike to get to the wreck site is very dangerous. I know there are mixed feelings about all this, but I definitely appreciate the decision to keep visitors and wildlife safe by removing this plane debris. Not only is the makeshift trail hazardous to hikers because it’s not built to support hundreds of visitors every year, but also the natural landscape and wildlife is at risk here too. Keeping people from hiking this trail will allow more plants to come back and a larger homespace for the permanent resident wildlife. In the end, it’s a win-win situation that helps and protects everyone.
Hiking Tips for Waterrock Knob
Hiking in the Rain
As mentioned earlier, it was a rainy day. I do not recommend doing this hike in the rain for the following reasons. One, you can’t see the views. There are overlook spots throughout the hike as well as from the parking lot. But if it’s been raining, most likely those views will be covered in clouds. And lastly, it can be dangerous. Take extra caution hiking in the rain, especially here. We noticed that the trails all become flooded with their own little streams. So basically, in order to hike in the rain here, you have to hike up and down flowing streams of water. This is why I recommend this hike, but not in the rain. It’s safer and more enjoyable on a clear, sunny day.
Hiking to the Summit
Hiking to the summit of Waterrock Knob is all uphill. Be prepared for a strenuous climb to the peak. But if the weather is good, it’s worth the hike. Along the way there’s also clearings where you can overlook the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although there’s no benches, besides the first overlook platform early in the hike, there’s plenty of places to stop and take a break. There’s a sign when you’re almost to the top that warns of a washout, but this section of the trail seemed harmless compared to a lot of other trails I’ve hiked. There’s a fence there too which might add to the sense of security in this spot.
Why You Should Still Stop at Waterrock Knob Even if You Don’t Hike
Even if hiking is not for you, it’s still worthwhile to take a driving break at Waterrock Knob. For one, you can see views from both sides of the parking lot. There are long sidewalks to make a walk out of this place even if you don’t step foot on the trail itself. Wanna enjoy lunch with a view? There are picnic tables along the mountainside so you can. And there’s even a visitor center. Restrooms are also available, however there’s no plumbing. These are just holes with toilet seats and some hand sanitizer for when you’re done.
In Closing
The hike to Waterrock Knob is challenging because it just goes up, but from what I can tell, the additional views are worth it. And the views even from the parking lot make this a stop that should be added to your Blue Ridge Parkway list.
Be sure to watch the video of my friend and I tackling both the summit hike and the plane wreck site hike. It’s Part 2 of the “Road Tripping North Carolina” series which you won’t want to miss. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
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