Pinnacle via Bald Knob Ridge Trail - Pisgah National Forest, NC

Second hike of the day - drove a few miles up South Toe River Rd from the Black Mountain Campground to the Bald Knob Ridge Trail. The trail is also located in the Appalachian Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest. The Bald Knob Ridge Trail winds through really nice open hardwood forests, and has many switchbacks to alleviate the climb from the Left Prong South Toe River to Bald Knob Ridge. Although it has no views, the forest scenery is almost worth it. Once the trail ends at the Blue Ridge Parkway you can walk south for a quarter mile to start the Pinnacle Trail. This short summit trail may be one of the best forest hikes in the area.

Pinnacle, at 5,665 feet, is one of my favorite summits in the region. First I walked down to the east viewpoint, where you can see Green Knob, Dobson and Bald Knobs, the South Mtns, and the Hickory Nut Mtns. Back at the main summit with its open rock outcrops, you have one of the best vantage points of the Great Craggy Mtns and Black Mtns. To the south Graybeard Mt is the massive, round peak. You can see the Swannanoa Mtns and Hickory Nut Mtns further south, and the Great Balsam Mtns to the southwest. Bullhead Mt and Craggy Dome rise thousands of feet above the North Fork Swannanoa River due west. In the video I mistakenly refer to Bullhead Mt as Thunderhead Mt, I forgot to check the map. The Black Mountains tower above everything to the north, with the towers of Clingmans Peak, the cliffs of Potato Knob, and the pointy Blackstock Knob most prominent.

Hike was 7.2 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/9Yq6MbENyGvHDhYw8

Hike report
http://www.hikingupward.com/PNF/BaldK...