Old Dan Walking

To skip the chatter and go right to the pics of this walk, click the link below:

Looking Glass Rock Summit Trail (Opens in new window)

6.2 mile out-and-back walk on Looking Glass Rock summit trail in the Pisgah National Forest. The walk started and ended at the Looking Glass Rock trailhead on Forest Service Road 475 (a.k.a. Fish Hatchery Road) a short distance off of US Hwy 276, near Brevard, NC. – January 29, 2011 

You’ve got to love Winter in the old South. Piles of snow, buckets of ice, freezing rain, raging winds, chaos, Armageddon, dogs and cats living together!....then 70 degrees without a cloud in the sky. Such was the case for the last Saturday of a rough January 2011. After a long long long period of near total hibernation, I couldn’t let the gorgeous forecast go without a walk. It had been over 2 months since my last excursion into the mountains and today’s destination would be a short and moderate climb to knock some rust off.

I hadn’t spent much time in the popular Pisgah National Forest area near Brevard since my first visit to the area to camp at Davidson River Campground with my brother and friends in the mid 1970’s. I did stop roadside on US276 to admire Looking Glass Falls with my wife and boys a few years ago, but I don’t count stopping beside the road as really visiting these days. I arrived at the parking area on FS Road 475, already overflowing with cars and vans, and set out knowing it would be another day with plenty of company along the trail. Time to get 2011 officially underway, with a climb up to the summit of Looking Glass Rock. Like many, I've seen this pluton on many occassions from overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but today it's time to see it from a different perspective. The 'on top of it' perspective.

Note: the photo at the top of the post showing Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway is courtesy of romanticasheville.com.

The kiosk at the trailhead includes faded maps and information, as well as a warning to avoid disturbing the highly endangered Peregrine Falcons that nest on the rock’s craggy walls. Sadly, the last 3 years of broods did not survive. After crossing a tiny brook twice and following the yellow blazes, the trail climbs continuously through a hemlock forest, most of which are dead or dying. Evidence of very recent maintenance is observed all along the lower section of the trail, with many fresh cut downed trees and limbs along the borders. The lower section switches back and forth and climbs above a small stream, with views of some small cascades flowing across large rocks down and to my right. The grades of the surrounding hills are reasonably tame, and that combined with the good use of switchbacks and the views through the open forest makes the lower section quite enjoyable.

After switching through the tunnels, one of which had a very pleasant stream flowing through it, I briefly turn onto the south face. The forest change to sun-loving pines, laurel, and blueberry is noticeable. I reach the spot with a large open slab of flat rock on the left of the trail. This is a helipad where Transylvania County evacuates injured climbers.  Looking Glass Rock is a favorite of rock climbers, but they aren’t visible from the trail. A short distance past the helipad a large rock face appears on the right through the trees. The trail begins to steepen and becomes rockier.

I start to tire of climbing as I reach the double blaze denoting a major switchback to the northwest. The intersection seems to be a ‘T’, but you should go left here because there is nothing of interest to the right. The steepness lessens for a short while and you get more a ridgetop feel. Soon the summit is reached at 3968’, but that is not the end of the trail. A short descent takes me through a narrow, rocky tunnel of brush and out onto the rock face for the payoff of today’s climb.

Views to the east

Views to the north

Seeing those places I’ve visiting so many times from this vantage point is a great experience. I carefully make my way around the rocks, because this rock drops off dramatically just a few feet away. The trails of ice make it even more interesting. I sit under the Table Mountain Pine that cling to the rocks and enjoy a homemade hoagie at 3800’. Life is grand.

I talk to the leaders and well-mannered boys from Troop 77 of Asheville. They are having the time of their lives snapping pictures and emailing them to friends and family. I don’t want to leave, but reluctantly return the way I came up, enjoying the easy and short descent. Another stellar Winter day in the old South.

Low elevation on my 6.2 mile out-and-back walk was around 2320’ at the trailhead and high elevation was 3969’ at the summit of Looking Glass Rock. The walk included about 1700’ in overall climbing. Looking Glass Rock summit trail is an outstanding and well maintained trail and should be on every hiker’s must-do list. 

For pics of this walk, click the link below:

Looking Glass Rock Summit Trail (Opens in new window)