Blue Ridge Pinnacle and Rocky Knob

The trail is at a white pipe gate, just past the Mt Mitchell turn off if you’re heading north from Asheville. Don’t block the gate and park on the grass. This is the Old Toll Road and you can take it all the way down to Montreat and Black Mountain. Once you start hiking, the road there is an immediate trail to your right - follow it up to the summit on The Pinnacle. The trail is unmarked, but very easy to follow. It gets steep at times, but not too bad. There are signs to keep out of the Asheville watershed to your right. The summit is rocky and requires a mild scramble.  From the Pinnacle summit, there are several trails that lead off to the east. This trail is marked with white paint blazes and it is steep! Coming up this trail and then going back down the north trail is recommended.  The trail ends at a nice campsite before connecting back on the Old Toll Road. The road is rocky at places, but is nice, fairly level and wide.  Eventually, between the Pinnacle and Rocky Knob, the road comes close to the ridgeline and you can see an obvious connector trail. You can get on the ridgeline trail, as it is fairly easy to follow. Asheville Watershed warning signs “blaze” this trail.  Eventually, you reach a spur trail to the first peak of Rocky Knob. Take it to the top. There are no views from here and the trail gets a little rough, but there are pink and red ribbons tried to trees at the top to help you find your way. Bushwhack back to the main ridgeline trail and continue on. Shortly after, you will encounter another spur trail to the 2nd peak of Rocky Knob. There is a gray plastic blaze nailed to a tree. This spur trail is maintained by the Montreal hiking club even though this is outside their property. Follow it to the top. On a clear day, this is supposed to be the best viewpoint on the Great Craggy Mountains.