Blackstock Knob

Summary
Distance: 6.2 miles
Elevation gain: 1,657 feet
Type: Out and back
Start: Paved lot on Blue Ridge Parkway. (map)
AllTrails map here

We chose Blackstock Knob as our first peak in the South Beyond 6,000 (SB6K) Challenge because it was an easy day hike and we had limited time.

The hike started from Walker Knob Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parking area was pretty full when we got there, but we were able to sort out a place to park.

From the parking area, the hike steadily gains elevation on the Mountains to the Sea Trail which is blazed with white circles. Coming from Georgia, the hike was a real treat because of the higher elevation. The trail climbed somewhat steeply for the first .75 miles, but the trail was in great shape and the switch backs made the climb easier.

The summit was forested without a view, but there was a nice vista along the way.

The Blackstock Knob summit was only a mile and a half from the parking lot, so we needed to continue hiking to get a 5 mile plus hike for the SB6K rules.

We kept going on the Mountains to the Sea trail towards Patton Knob, and just past Rainbow Gap we noticed a trail heading off to the left. After a short distance, we came across what looked like a plane crash. I couldn’t find any information about the site, but it was a very interesting find.

We returned to the Mountains to the Sea trail to make our way to Patton Knob, a 6,040 foot peak. We continued another three tenths of a mile to a spot we located on our GPS phone app. From that spot, it was an easy bushwhack to the summit. Patton Knob is not on the SB6K list because it is too close to Potato Knob, a higher peak.