Sam's Knob Trail

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#BFBF00" TEXT="#080000" background="03f55663.gif"> <div> <I><B>General Info:</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Trail length is about 1.5 miles each way.  Elevation gain is about 200' (Mtn. summit is over 6,000' but you start hike at 5,800').  This is an easy hike.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>This is a short hike leaving from the Black Balsam Parking Area.  FS road 816, which turns off Blue Ridge Parkway.   Although this is a short hike and only climbs 200' I believe it has one of the most awesome views you can find.  Shining Rock is  visible as well as Devil's Courthouse.  And views in all directions from two peaks separated by a small saddle.  This Summer I camped on top and hiked into Shining Rock Wilderness the next day.  It gets crowded in this whole area on weekends.  So not the best place for solitude, but the views and hiking terrain make up for it!</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B> </B></I></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#CCCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#666633" FACE="Arial" >The Trails of Western North Carolina</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Trails of Western North Carolina"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>Sam's Knob Trail</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pink Beds Loop"><U>Pink Beds Loop</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniels Ridge Loop"><U>Daniel's Ridge Loop</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cat Gap Loop"><U>Cat Gap Loop</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Art Loeb Bypass (Cedar Rock) "><U>      Art Loeb Bypass (Cedar Rock)  </U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Butter Gap Trail"><U>Butter Gap Trail</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" John Rock Trail"><U> John Rock Trail</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Looking Glass Rock"><U>Looking Glass Rock</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04ef0030.gif" border=0 width="496" height="3" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B>Sam's Knob Trail</B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pisgah Ranger District"><U><I><B>Pisgah Ranger District</B></I></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="080660d0.jpg" border=0 width="358" height="269" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B>Western View from Sam's Knob</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="08271150.jpg" border=0 width="369" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Sam's Knob as viewed from Shining Rock Wilderness</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="0844ed60.jpg" border=0 width="334" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Campfire near campsite on Sam's Knob</B></I></div> <div> This campfire was in an existing fire ring.  I normally use a propane stove when camping, but since the fire ring was already there and wood piled up for burning I used it because it was chilly that evening.</div> <div> <I><B>All photos taken August 2000</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sam's Knob Trail</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pink Beds Loop"><U>Pink Beds Loop</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniels Ridge Loop"><U>Daniel's Ridge Loop</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cat Gap Loop"><U>Cat Gap Loop</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Art Loeb Bypass (Cedar Rock) "><U>      Art Loeb Bypass (Cedar Rock)  </U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Butter Gap Trail"><U>Butter Gap Trail</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" John Rock Trail"><U> John Rock Trail</U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Looking Glass Rock"><U>Looking Glass Rock</U></A>       <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pisgah Ranger District"><U>Pisgah Ranger District</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>