Date: Saturday, October 21st

Time: 10:30 am

Where: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, Blue Ridge Parkway

Distance:  5 miles

Difficulty: 5 miles (out and back), rugged, rocky terrain with steep elevation change

Cost: FREE for all participants (pre-registration is required)

Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on October 21st for a moderately strenuous hike to enjoy Blackrock Ridge with views of Thunderstruck Ridge, Waterrock Knob and other 6,00ft peaks! Participants will travel 5 miles of rugged terrain through mystical red spruce, Fraser firs, and red oak forests while periodically stopping at rock outcroppings for awe inspiring views. During this time of year, we’ll be seeing spectacular fall colors as well as Saw-Whet Owl and Carolina Northern Flying squirrel habitat!

Blackrock Mountain in the Plott Balsam Mountains is part of a network of conservation lands in progress of being added to an expansion of national park land at Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In 2013, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased the summit of Blackrock Mountain, with more than 250 surrounding acres. The property adjoins other conservation lands: SAHC’s 60-acre Blackrock Ridge tract (protected in 2010), the Sylva Watershed (protected with a conservation easement held by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee), and The Nature Conservancy’s Plott-Balsam Preserve. SAHC’s conservation work in this area protects high elevation habitat and pristine headwater streams.

Thank you for taking interest in our outing with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy!

I am sorry to say that our outing is currently FULL and we cannot accept any more attendees at this time. However, if you are still interested in the hike, please contact me at katie@appalachian.org and your name and email will be put on a wait-list. I will contact you if a spot becomes available.  If you have any questions, you can contact me at katie@appalachian.org