SOTA Guide - Mt Pisgah, W4C/CM-011

Drive Guide - Mt Pisgah from Green Knob

• Duration: 20 minutes (includes a stop for soft drink at the “country store”)
• Seasonal/Limited Access: Blue Ridge Parkway closed in winter
• Directions:
  • Head East/North on BRP and go 6.7
  • After passing long parking on L, bear R at Buck Spring (paved rd w/grass triangle). Go 0.1
  • Drive through first parking to far end of 2nd parking (about 0.3)

Drive Guide - Mt Pisgah to Atlanta

• Duration: 3:35
• Google Maps URL ending at Ashford Dunwoody Rd and I-285 at 33.917, -84.3378:
• Seasonal/Limited Access:
• Directions:
  • Head back to the parkway from the parking (about 0.4)
  • L on BRP and go 35.8
  • R on exit and go 0.5
  • R on US-23 S and go 13
  • Exit 81 for US-23 S and go 20.5
  • Ramp to R for US-23 S and go 73
  • I-985 S and go 24
  • I-85 S and go 16

Drive Guide - Mt Pisgah from Atlanta

• Duration: 3:25, 177 miles
• Google Maps URL from Ashford Dunwoody Rd and I-285 at 33.917, -84.3378:
• Seasonal/Limited Access: Blue Ridge Parkway closed in winter. KI4SVM says “often access from the side Hwy 215 is available… BRP’s infoline… is highly recommended - 828-298-0398.” Check the BRP Closure Map.
• Directions:
  • I-285 E
  • I-85 N and go 16.6
  • I-985/GA-365 N and go 52
  • US-441 N and go 44
  • Merge w/US-441 bypass / US-64 E and go 20
  • Ramp for 74 E and go 17.2
  • Choice: Do you need McDonalds?
  • Yes:
    • Stay on 74 E another 3 miles & R on US-276 S
    • After McDonalds, continue on US-276 S about 1.3
    • L on US-276 S / Pigeon Rd
  • No:
    • Exit 98 (US-23 Business) to West Waynesville and go 0.2
      • R on Hyatt Creek Rd and go 0.2
    • L on S. Main St and go 2.1
    • R on US-276 S
  • On US-276 S leaving Bus-23 go 20.7. Note: US-276 is twisty/windy average 30 MPH.
  • L on BRP access and go 0.2
  • R on BRP and go 4.2
  • R at grass triangle and go 0.3 through 1st lot and park in 2nd.
  • Trailhead is at the far (north) end of the lot.
• Food
  • Last McDonalds: 825 Russ Ave, Waynesville, NC (US-276 near US-23/US-74)
  • Before that: Sylva, NC (a little off the route)
  • Before that: 329 Franklin Plaza, Franklin, NC (poor service)
  • Before that: Clayton, GA (busy on Saturday mornings)
  • Before that: Cornelia, on Level Grove Rd (just BEFORE Cornelia)

Near the trailhead

• You turn off the parkway at MM 407.7
• Soft drinks are available at the “Country Store” at the north end of the Mt. Pisgah lodge parking lot.
• There is a long parking lot just south of your turn-off (and just north of the store). There are restrooms here.

Trail Guide

• Duration: 1:10 up, 0:45 down. 1.2 miles. Slow going due to eroded trail with many large rocks. Tough on the knees.
• Navigation: Follow the trail off the end of the last parking.
• Trailhead altitude: about 4950’
• Summit altitude: 5721’
• Grid square: EM85ok
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Trailhead: 35.41863, -82.74795
  • Summit: 35.4257, -82.7569

    Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree:
• Space to guy mast:
• Cell coverage: 2014: AT&T + SMS worked; 2017: 2017: AT&T had cell + data
• Unique features: TV antenna and observation platform on top
• 2016: S7 QRM (presumably from TV/radio transmitters or air conditioning) on 20 meters. (I operated from the grassy area accessible by passing through the tower.)

Plan-B Candidates