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Trails: Flat Rock Trail
Picnic Tables: 1 (no grill)
FLAT ROCK LOOP TRAIL
Length: .6-mile loop
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
There is a nice view at the Flat Rock Parking Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but in this case you must hike to it. A short loop trail starts behind the overlook identification sign. Though you ultimately end up at the top of a small, granite outcrop that is part of Grandfather Mountain, the hike is not all that hard. You are faced with a very gradual ascent on the way up, and an even easier descent on the way back down. I wouldn’t call the hike easy because it is not completely flat, but it is far from moderate, maybe 2 out of 5 on a difficulty scale. Of more concern is the rough terrain, particularly on the ascent. The trail is full of tree roots and rocks, so watch your step.
The trail forks 400 feet from the parking lot, marking the start of the loop portion of the trail. While it makes no real difference which way you proceed (straight or right), the trail was created to be hiked in a clockwise manner so you can read the nature trail signs more easily (they face you). Stay straight to hike in this intended direction.
It takes about ten minutes to make the .25-mile trip to the top. You will be walking through the forest on the way up, but once you emerge into the sunshine at the top, the trail surface is granite slabs.
The granite is pot-marked with a feature known as bathtubs. These are shallow basins caused by erosion that fill with water. They tend to grow over time, as each winter any water that remains in the bathtubs freezes and breaks apart more chucks of rock.
There is a decent view when you first reach the top of Flat Rock, and many people think this is the end of the trail and turn around and head back to the parking lot. However, the real view is just around the corner. The trail makes a sharp U-turn and continues across the top of the mountain. A concrete marker points the way, plus there are yellow lines painted on the rock surface to follow. It is at this second granite outcrop where the real view awaits.
If you are young and agile, there are plenty of rock outcroppings that you can scurry down to.
As mentioned, the return trip is not as steep as the hike up, plus the terrain is much smoother for most of the way. It reverts back to a rocky and rooty surface only for the last couple of minutes before coming back to the start of the loop.
Overall, this is definitely one of the better “leg-stretchers” on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Leg stretchers are short trails at overlooks that are intended to take visitors to a scenic view, but most of the views are now blocked by trees and other brush. Some trees do get in the way at Flat Rock, but for now it’s still worth the effort.
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Last updated on November 14, 2023