Waterrock Knob Overlook
Waterrock Knob is the second-highest point accessible by car on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at Milepost 451.2 near Sylva, NC, with the visitor center parking lot at 5,820 feet and the summit at 6,292 feet. The circular parking lot faces both east and west, making it one of the few spots on the Parkway where both sunrise and sunset can be watched from the same location. The seasonal NPS visitor center provides ranger assistance, exhibits on the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, and trail access. On clear days, the Plott Balsam and Great Balsam Mountain Ranges fan out in all directions. The 0.6-mile trail to the summit begins paved and then ascends 400 feet of rocky terrain.
Waterrock Knob sits at Milepost 451.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the southern end of the road, and the overlook is reached by a short spur off the main Parkway lane. The parking lot is circular, oriented so that one side faces east and the other faces west — making it one of the few spots on the Parkway where you can watch both sunrise and sunset without moving your bike. The elevation at the lot itself is 5,820 feet, and the views sweep across the Plott Balsam and Great Balsam Mountain Ranges in nearly every direction.
The National Park Service operates a seasonal visitor center here, which covers the area's geology, the high-elevation forest environment, and the cultural history of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians whose homeland surrounds this section of the Parkway. Pit toilets are available at the lot. For riders who want to stretch their legs, a trail begins at the upper corner of the parking area — paved for the first quarter mile, then turning to rocky terrain as it gains roughly 400 feet to the summit. The trailhead is also the southernmost hiking access point on the Parkway before it ends near the Great Smoky Mountains.
One practical note: this section of the Parkway closes periodically in winter for snow and ice, and conditions at nearly 6,000 feet can change fast. Fog rolls in without warning at this altitude, and the exposed lot offers no windbreak. The Parkway itself through here moves at a measured pace — curves are constant and wildlife crossings are common — so build in time rather than trying to cover miles quickly.
One of the highest and most exposed overlooks on the entire Parkway — the circular lot frames mountain views in every direction and makes a dramatic high-altitude stop near the southern end of the NC Blue Ridge.
On the way: Blue Ridge Parkway
Shot by the riders who've run it.
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