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Looking Glass Rock

Looking Glass access

Directions:

From Brevard, North Carolina

Looking Glass Falls is located right off of U.S. 276. From Brevard, take U.S. 276 north, about 5 miles past the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. The falls will be on your right.

From Asheville NC

take Interstate 26 to exit 9 then bear right off the exit onto rt 64 and follow into Brevard NC, bear right at the light after Wal-Mart into Pisgah National Forest, follow for about 2 miles then bear right at fork, falls will be 1000 feet on right with a parking area.

For more information:

visitor information center 828-257-4200,
U.S. Forest Service,
P.O. Box 2750,
Asheville, NC 28802

Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah Ranger District
1001 Pisgah Highway
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
(828) 877-3265

Looking Glass Rock

The name Looking Glass Rock get it's name as it reflects light like a looking glass when water freezes on the exposed granite surface. The mountain is a huge solid piece of exposed Whitesides granite that rises from the valley floor in the midst of the Pisgah National Forest.

Looking Glass Rock's sheer faces are popular rock climbing sites during certain times of the year. It is one of the best rock climbing areas in the east, and sports steep friction, crack, aid, and face climbing routes. The rock face is closed off to climbing during Peregrine Falcon nesting seasons. The area is a prime nesting site for the threatened Falcon in the southern Appalachians.

Despite the 3 mile uphill climb, the hiking trail is heavily used, and there is a good amount of erosion on the switchbacks. Do not to shortcut the switchbacks! The Summit presents a fantastic view of the Shining Rock Wilderness. You can see overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

To see Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway, it looks like a great stone dome... which is what it is. Hiking it to the top affords one a fantastic view. A similar hike a little bit to the Southwest is John Rock. After hiking this trail, tell your friends you've scaled a granitic pluton.

Fall size: 65'

Beauty Scale:>
(1-worth seeing-10 awesome)

Fees:

Closest town: Brevard North Carolina