Guide: Waterrock Knob W4C/WM-004

Drive Guide - Waterrock Knob from Atlanta

• Duration: 161 miles, 2:50
• Google Maps URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): https://tinyurl.com/atl-to-waterrock
• Seasonal/Limited Access: Parkway closed in winter. Check the BRP Closure Map.
• Directions:
  • I-285 to I-85. On I-85 go N 16.6
  • I-985/GA-365 and go 52.6
  • US-23N and go 14.2
  • Merge onto Great Smoky Mtn Expressway (still US-23) and go 12.4
  • L to Blue Ridge Pky access and go 0.5
  • R onto Blue Ridge Pky and go 7.6
  • R to Waterrock Knob parking and go 0.3
• Food
  • Last McDonalds: 329 Franklin Plaza, Franklin, NC (poor service)
  • Penultimate McD: Clayton, GA (busy on Saturday mornings)
  • Antepenultimate: Cornelia, on Level Grove Rd (just BEFORE Cornelia)

Drive Guide - Waterrock Knob from Barnett Knob (W4C/WM-055)

• Duration: 20 minutes, 11 miles
• Google Maps https://tinyurl.com/WR-from-barnett
• Directions:
  • Right turn on Parkway and go 11
  • L on Waterrock Knob driveway and go 0.3

Drive Guide - Waterrock Knob from Richland Balsam (W4C/WM-003)

• Duration: 20.4 miles, 33 minutes
• Google Maps URL from Richland Balsam: https://tinyurl.com/WR-from-richland
• Directions:
  • Head compass north (parkway south, toward Cherokee: turn right exiting parking) on Blue Ridge Pky and go 20.1
  • R to Waterrock Knob Parking (between mile markers 450 & 451) and go 0.3. Restrooms.

Drive Guide - Waterrock Knob to Atlanta

• Duration: 162 miles, 2:50
• Directions:
• Head away from parking lot, back to Parkway (0.3 miles)
• L on Blue Ridge Parkway and go 7.7
• L on exit road to Smoky Mtn Expressway/US-23/US-74 and go 0.5
• R on US-23/US-74 and go 13.0
• Exit R to US-441 S and go xx to Clayton GA
• Follow GA-365 S to I-985 S to I-85 S

Trail Guide

• Duration: 0.4 miles, 0:25 up, 0:20 down (not hurrying)
• Navigation: Follow trail north from north end of parking lot
• Trailhead altitude: 5800
• Summit altitude: 6247
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Grid Square: EM85kl
  • Parking: 35.46023, -83.14121
  • Trailhead: 35.46094, -83.14085
  • Summit: 35.4642, -83.1377

Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree: No. You could run something horizontal at about 15-20 feet.
• Space to guy mast: Yes
• Cell coverage: AT&T 2018=SMS slow but worked 2 for 2. AT&T(2014)=OK, Verizon=OK, APRS=OK