Hike Description
This section of Trail suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Helene in Fall of 2024. Help this area recover by practicing Leave No Trace and respecting the burn ban, which is in place to protect against wildfires.
- The hike starts on the same side of the gap as the small dirt parking area. Follow the white blazes of the A.T. southbound (compass north for this hike, though!) as it gradually ascends up to a highpoint on the ridge in 0.25 mile.
- At mile 0.4, cross a second highpoint on the ridge and descend to a gap. The Trail then climbs steadily to the highpoint of Little Rock Knob (4918’) at 2.2 miles, and at 2.3 miles reaches excellent views into Tennessee from overlooks at tops of cliffs. Look north to view White Rocks Mountain, over which the A.T. passes.
- Retrace your steps to return
Directions
From the town of Roan Mountain, TN, take TN 143 through Roan Mountain State Park to Burbank. Turn right on Hughes Gap Road and go 3 miles to ridge crest intersection with A.T. There’s a small dirt parking area on right at ridge crest. From the NC side, Hughes Gap Road turns off of NC 226 in the small town of Buladean. From here, it is 4 miles to the parking at the ridge crest on the left.
