The Green Knob Lookout is not really visible from on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell. The lookout is no longer staffed but is maintained by the North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association. You can climb up the stairs for good views but the cab and deck are locked shut. The National Forest Service now only opens the cab for special tours. Green Knob Lookout is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lookout Elevation: 5,080 feet
Hiking Distance: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 340 feet
Prominence: 760 feet
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Green Knob Lookout
The Green Knob Lookout is not really visible from on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell. The lookout is no longer staffed but is maintained by the North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association. You can climb up the stairs for good views but the cab and deck are locked shut. The National Forest Service now only opens the cab for special tours. Green Knob Lookout is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lookout Histroy:
Park at the Green Knob Overlook at milepost 350.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just five miles north of Mt. Mitchell State Park. Walk the road to the right until you see the trail on the left side of the road. Brush may be overgrowing the sign at the start. Just follow the trail up to the top. Just before the lookout is a split. Left is the lookout, right would start dropping you 3.3 miles down to the Black Mountain Campground.
Access and Route:
Forested trail
Park at the Green Knob Overlook. Views better here then under the lookout.
Hard to see the lookout from the trail.
Trying to get a view of the cab.
At the trail split just before the lookout.
View from the stairs below the locked lookout.
Power pole below the lookout
Built in 1931
Walking the road back to the overlook parking.
Can see the powerline swath in the trees in route to the Mt. Mitchell restaurant.
Trail in blue, Blue Ridge Parkway in red.