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Waterrock Knob facts for kids

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Waterrock Knob
Waterrock Knob viewed from the Plott Balsams overlook, May 2017 3.jpg
Waterrock Knob viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Highest point
Elevation 6,292 ft (1,918 m)
Prominence 1,947 ft (593 m)
Geography
Location Haywood / Jackson Counties, North Carolina, U.S.
Parent range Plott Balsams
Blue Ridge Mountains
Topo map USGS Sylva North
Climbing
Easiest route Hike

Waterrock Knob is a mountain peak in the U.S. state of North Carolina. 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 parkway. A visitors' center is located near its summit and a hiking trail leads to its top. The hiking trail and visitors' center are manned and maintained by the National Park Service, part of the United States Department of the Interior.

Name

Waterrock Knob is named as such because of a spring located near the summit where hunters would refill their canteens.

Geography

With an elevation of 6,292 feet (1,918 m), Waterrock Knob is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 13th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States if using a 160 feet (49 m) 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 National Park Service unit. Cherokee is located about 10 miles (16 km) to the west, while Richland Balsam is located about 10 miles (16 km) 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. This 0.6 miles (0.97 km) long trail ascends over 400 feet (120 m) from visitor center's parking lot and is paved for the first quarter mile.

Images for kids

  • Waterrock Knob NC

    rom the visitor center parking lot

  • Looking south from the summit of Waterrock Knob

    aken from the summit of Waterrock Knob

  • View wrn03

    iew of the Waterrock Knob parking lot and the Blue Ridge Parkway from the summit of Waterrock Knob

  • 18-23-059-waterrock

    Waterrock Knob Trail

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