Home-runs (4 summits in one day)

  • Cohutta Wilderness: Dyer Mountain, Flat Top Mountain (4WD required), Cowpen Mountain, Bald Mountain - 36 points
  • Richland, Steestachee, Barnett-or-Bunches, Waterrock. I’m convinced you could make this a 5-way with Bunches Bald, but you’d need to be a superman and move fast. I have to admit that I don’t much like Steestachee, so the “favorite” here is just that a 4 or 5 summit day is amazing.

Favorite Triple-headers

  • Black Balsam Knob, Green Knob (W4C/CM-023), Mt Pisgah
    • Blue Ridge Parkway SW of Asheville. The Blue Ridge Parkway is always beautiful. Best to do Black Balsam early in the morning, before parking gets awful. 28 points.
  • Dyer, Cowpen, Bald
  • Brasstown Bald, Bell Knob, Ravencliff Knob
    • Brief enough for all but mid-winter; back at the car by 5:45 PM. 26 points.
  • Glassy, Brasstown, Ravencliff
    • Brief enough for all but mid-winter; back at the car by 5:45 PM. 26 points.
  • Clingman’s Dome, Nettle Creek Bald, Barnett Knob
  • Clingman’s Dome, Nettle Creek Bald, Cowee
  • Hemlock, Huckleberry, Cowee or Winespring
  • Rabun Bald, Blackrock Mtn, Bell Knob
  • Richland, Waterrock, Bunches or Barnett
  • Max Patch, Walnut Mtn, Round Mtn or Snowbird Mtn
  • Siler Bald, Winespring Bald, Wesser Bald
  • Rocky Mountain (W4G/NG-011), Blue Mountain, Wildcat
  • Shortoff Mtn, Yellow Mtn, Whiteside Mtn
  • Springer Mountain, Sassafras, Gooch
  • Huckleberry, Stratton, Hemlock
  • Brasstown, Ravencliff, Bell Knob or Glassy Mtn

Favorite Double-headers

  • Max Patch, Walnut Mtn
  • Siler Bald, Wesser Bald
  • Grassy Ridge Bald, Roan High Knob (W4C_EM-001, W4T_SU-005)
  • Mt Mitchell, Green Knob (W4C/CM-020)
    • I used to do Craggy Dome with this, but I decided Craggy Dome was too miserable.
  • Rabun Bald, Blackrock Mtn
  • Standing Indian, Yellow Mtn (W4C_WM-014, W4C_WM-034)
  • Standing Indian, Ravencliff
  • Rich, Mt Hardy
  • Rocky Mtn (W4G_HC-008), Springer Mtn
  • Levelland Mountain, Blood Mtn
    • Tough, but they share the same trailhead.
  • Sassafras Knob, Grassy Mountain (W4T_SU-061, W4G_HC-007)
  • Bald Mountain (HC-003), Grassy Mountain (HC-007) (Bald is part of a triple and a quad)
  • Big Cedar (NG-023), Black Mountain (NG-022)
  • Clingman’s Dome, Nettle Creek Bald. Nettle isn’t great, but it combines nicely with Clingman’s.
  • Gooch, Sassafras

Favorite Summits

  • Big Bald Mountain (W4G_HC-002) - Beautiful walk; long walk; carry waders.
  • Black Balsam - Beautiful summit. Scatter my ashes here when I die.
  • Coosa Bald - short, steep trail. Always cold.
  • Huckleberry Knob (W4C_WM-011) - beautiful alpine field, with a relatively short hike.
  • Max Patch (W4C_CM-036) - beautiful alpine field, with a short hike.
  • Mount Mitchell (W4C_CM-001) - observation deck on Blue Ridge Parkway; highest point in NC; almost drive-up.
  • Mt Hardy (W4C_WM-006) - a bit long hike, with a beautiful summit on Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Mt Pisgah (W4C_CM-011) - observation deck on Blue Ridge Parkway (with TV tower)
  • Rabun Bald (W4G_NG-002) - observation deck
  • Richland Balsam Mountain (W4C_WM-003) - Blue Ridge Parkway; no view, but pretty balsam summit
  • Roan High Knob - trailhead feels like the top of the world; beautiful sunsets from trailhead.
  • Siler Bald (W4C_WM-024) - beautiful views from summit just off AT
  • Standing Indian (W4C_WM-014) - beautiful view
  • Waterrock Knob (W4C_WM-004) - Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Wesser Bald (W4C_WM-058) - beautiful views from 30’ fire tower
  • Yellow Mountain (W4C_WM-028) - tidy little fire tower on top

On or Near the Blue Ridge Parkway

  • Clingmans Dome
  • Barnett Knob
  • Waterrock Knob
  • Richland Balsam
  • Black Balsam Knob
  • Mount Pisgah
  • Mount Mitchell
  • I avoid Greentop due to QRM. I don’t often go to Bunches Bald because it belongs to the Cherokee and one really ought to seek permission from the campground operator.