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green knob lookout tower

Hiking the mountains of Western North Carolina

Built by the U.S. Forest Service in 1931, the Green Knob Lookout Tower was once a fire tower. Its location was chosen because it is the best view of the Black Mountains range, which includes the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River, Mt. Mitchell. Getting there is as easy as a half-mile hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Length: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 340 feet
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Skill Level: Moderate to strenuous
Trailhead Elevation: 4,740 feet
Top Elevation: 5,080 feet

Directions from Asheville

  1. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north out of town.
  2. Park at milepost 350.4.
  3. Walk about 100 yards north (right) out of the parking lot.
  4. Cross the road to access the trailhead.

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