Home-runs (4 summits in one day)
- Cohutta Wilderness: Dyer Mountain, Flat Top Mountain (4WD required), Cowpen Mountain, Bald Mountain - 36 points
- Richland, Steestachee, Barnett-or-Bunches, Waterrock. I’m convinced you could make this a 5-way with Bunches Bald, but you’d need to be a superman and move fast. I have to admit that I don’t much like Steestachee, so the “favorite” here is just that a 4 or 5 summit day is amazing.
Favorite Triple-headers
- Black Balsam Knob, Green Knob (W4C/CM-023), Mt Pisgah
- Blue Ridge Parkway SW of Asheville. The Blue Ridge Parkway is always beautiful. Best to do Black Balsam early in the morning, before parking gets awful. 28 points.
- Dyer, Cowpen, Bald
- Brasstown Bald, Bell Knob, Ravencliff Knob
- Brief enough for all but mid-winter; back at the car by 5:45 PM. 26 points.
- Glassy, Brasstown, Ravencliff
- Brief enough for all but mid-winter; back at the car by 5:45 PM. 26 points.
- Clingman’s Dome, Nettle Creek Bald, Barnett Knob
- Clingman’s Dome, Nettle Creek Bald, Cowee
- Hemlock, Huckleberry, Cowee or Winespring
- Rabun Bald, Blackrock Mtn, Bell Knob
- Richland, Waterrock, Bunches or Barnett
- Max Patch, Walnut Mtn, Round Mtn or Snowbird Mtn
- Siler Bald, Winespring Bald, Wesser Bald
- Rocky Mountain (W4G/NG-011), Blue Mountain, Wildcat
- Shortoff Mtn, Yellow Mtn, Whiteside Mtn
- Springer Mountain, Sassafras, Gooch
- Huckleberry, Stratton, Hemlock
- Brasstown, Ravencliff, Bell Knob or Glassy Mtn
Favorite Double-headers
- Max Patch, Walnut Mtn
- Siler Bald, Wesser Bald
- Grassy Ridge Bald, Roan High Knob (W4C_EM-001, W4T_SU-005)
- Mt Mitchell, Green Knob (W4C/CM-020)
- I used to do Craggy Dome with this, but I decided Craggy Dome was too miserable.
- Rabun Bald, Blackrock Mtn
- Standing Indian, Yellow Mtn (W4C_WM-014, W4C_WM-034)
- Standing Indian, Ravencliff
- Rich, Mt Hardy
- Rocky Mtn (W4G_HC-008), Springer Mtn
- Levelland Mountain, Blood Mtn
- Tough, but they share the same trailhead.
- Sassafras Knob, Grassy Mountain (W4T_SU-061, W4G_HC-007)
- Bald Mountain (HC-003), Grassy Mountain (HC-007) (Bald is part of a triple and a quad)
- Big Cedar (NG-023), Black Mountain (NG-022)
- Clingman’s Dome, Nettle Creek Bald. Nettle isn’t great, but it combines nicely with Clingman’s.
- Gooch, Sassafras
Favorite Summits
- Big Bald Mountain (W4G_HC-002) - Beautiful walk; long walk; carry waders.
- Black Balsam - Beautiful summit. Scatter my ashes here when I die.
- Coosa Bald - short, steep trail. Always cold.
- Huckleberry Knob (W4C_WM-011) - beautiful alpine field, with a relatively short hike.
- Max Patch (W4C_CM-036) - beautiful alpine field, with a short hike.
- Mount Mitchell (W4C_CM-001) - observation deck on Blue Ridge Parkway; highest point in NC; almost drive-up.
- Mt Hardy (W4C_WM-006) - a bit long hike, with a beautiful summit on Blue Ridge Parkway
- Mt Pisgah (W4C_CM-011) - observation deck on Blue Ridge Parkway (with TV tower)
- Rabun Bald (W4G_NG-002) - observation deck
- Richland Balsam Mountain (W4C_WM-003) - Blue Ridge Parkway; no view, but pretty balsam summit
- Roan High Knob - trailhead feels like the top of the world; beautiful sunsets from trailhead.
- Siler Bald (W4C_WM-024) - beautiful views from summit just off AT
- Standing Indian (W4C_WM-014) - beautiful view
- Waterrock Knob (W4C_WM-004) - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Wesser Bald (W4C_WM-058) - beautiful views from 30’ fire tower
- Yellow Mountain (W4C_WM-028) - tidy little fire tower on top
On or Near the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Clingmans Dome
- Barnett Knob
- Waterrock Knob
- Richland Balsam
- Black Balsam Knob
- Mount Pisgah
- Mount Mitchell
- I avoid Greentop due to QRM. I don’t often go to Bunches Bald because it belongs to the Cherokee and one really ought to seek permission from the campground operator.
