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A 12-mile round-trip challenging run.


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Map Key

12.1

Miles

19.5

KM

75%

Runnable

6,013' 1,833 m

High

3,078' 938 m

Low

3,551' 1,082 m

Up

3,552' 1,083 m

Down

11%

Avg Grade (6°)

47%

Max Grade (25°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

This is a great run. It is well worth the steep and rocky terrain. You’ll get 360-degree views and the run is expandable allowing you to add on it you want to do more mileage. You can add Pinnacle Peak to the run or once you’ve made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway you can continue to Waterrock Knob and beyond.

Need to Know

Watch for snow and ice in the winter months near Black Rock.

Runner Notes

This is a rugged trail. Use caution in cooler months as the trail can become icy on the ridge making the trail more challenging.

Description

To find the trailhead, head up Fisher Creek Rd. all the way to the end. Park in designated parking area. You'll need to register, but access to trails is free.

From the trailhead, head up past the gate, and you are on the trail. Continue on the West Fork Trail toward Split Rock (0.5 miles). At 1.9 miles, you'll pass the trail that leads to the Pinnacle. Continue on West Fork. At 2.7 miles, you'll pass the East Fork Trail
Junction (this is the trail that you'll descend on later). Continue for another mile to the Black Rock Trail. This is a very steep 0.6 mile trail to Black Rock's summit.

After summiting Black Rock, continue east to Yellow Face. Summit Yellow Face and continue on to Blue Ridge Parkway. If you cross the road (use caution), you can continue to the Waterrock Knob parking area and run to the top. For this run, we just turned around and retraced our steps once we came to the road.

Once off Black Rock Trail, head back down to East Fork Trail (left) and follow this for 2.5 miles down to the parking lot.

Flora & Fauna

Wildflowers

Contacts

Shared By:

Matt Kirby

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 7 votes

#3488

Overall
  4.1 from 7 votes
5 Star
43%
4 Star
43%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
14%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#138

in North Carolina

#3,488

Overall
9 Views Last Month
2,621 Since Dec 31, 2017
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
50%
33%
17%

Photos

Black Rock Summit
Dec 31, 2017 near Sylva, NC
West Fork Fisher Creek at Pinnacle Park on MST Segment 1B. Photo by Jeff Clark, www.internetbrothers.org.
Apr 6, 2016 near Sylva, NC

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Check-Ins

Feb 14, 2021
Richard Abernathy
Jan 19, 2020
Amber Thienel
We did West Fork to Pinnacle and the continued on to Black Rock. Wind was gusting around 25mph on top. Turned around and finished on East Fork. 10.8mi — 4h 45m
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