| 9-30-06 Looking Glass Falls, NC | Transylvania, Shining Rock |
| Parking: NAD27 351746.11 824611.53 +-24 |
Falls: NAD27 351745.86 824608.86 +-25 |
Description: Looking Glass Falls is roadside along east side of SR 276 South of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Narrative: I didn’t spend much time at the falls. I hopped out of my car, walked down the paved trail to the viewing area and continued ahead nearer the falls where I took my GPS point, snapped a couple pictures, and then routed back to my car. The falls is pretty. Before hiking up to Looking Glass Rock, I decided to see if I could shit and fill up on water at the Pisgah Wilderness Education Center. I arrived, used the very clean, flush-toilet bathrooms, and filled my small-mouth Nalgenes in the bathroom sink. The center is open 8:00 – 5:00 EDT. GPS: NAD27 351703.24 824731.71.
| 9-30-06 Looking Glass Rock Trail, NC | Transylvania, Shining Rock |
| Trailhead: NAD27 351726.89 824636.19 +-17 | GPS: NAD27 351815.25 824741.77 +-12 |
Description: From the trailhead, you enter the forest and begin switch-backing up the mountain through beautiful forest landscape. In 2.17 miles you reach a granite helipad, GPS: NAD27 351756.26 824720.24. In another .5 miles you reach the summit at 3989 feet elevation, GPS: NAD27 351813.17 824736.27. At this point, you’ve ascended 1,717 feet. The trail goes back downhill 87’ in .1 mile to Looking Glass Rock. The full trail length is 2.77 miles with a total elevation gain of 1,804 feet.
Narrative: I hiked to Looking Glass Rock in 58 minutes 30 seconds moving time. During that time, I was stopped for 17 min 45 sec. My average moving speed was 2.8 mph and my overall average speed ascending was 2.1 mph. The view from atop Looking Glass rock was rather nice though you don’t get a very good feel for how big the granite feature really is from up top. There were two ladies relaxing atop the rock when I arrived. After saying hi, I took some pictures and got my GPS point. I talked to them a little bit before they took off and recommended they check out Whiteside Mountain. Then I checked out the west side of the rock and started back down the trail moving fast. I hiked down in 48 minutes. My moving average was 3.4 mph and my overall average was 3.2 mph. I quickly caught up and passed the two ladies. It was a pretty nice hike though not spectacular. I enjoyed it.
Looking Glass Falls
Looking Glass Rock
Looking Glass Rock
Looking Glass Rock
Looking Glass Rock
Looking Glass Rock