North Face Trail Map

Route map of the North Face Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

North Face Trail Map

Route map of the North Face Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

North Face Trailhead (F.R. 475B) -- 3,100'

The massive cliffs of Looking Glass Rock (3,969') rise above the treetops, as seen from the North Face Trail where it departs Forest Service Road 475B...

North Face Trailhead (F.R. 475B) -- 3,100'

From the small parking area off F.R. 475B the trail drops a bit, to a clearing, where a small kiosk gives information on climbing the North Face of Looking Glass...a portion of which is closed during Peregrine Falcon nesting season...

North Face Trail -- 3,080'

The trail starts off on a gentle descent through thick laurels...

North Face Trail -- 3,050'

It's always impressive how dense some of these laurel "hells" can be...

North Face Trail -- 3,020'

The trails jungle-like surroundings...

North Face Trail @ Gumstead Branch -- 3,000'

The crossing of Gumstead Branch, which flows east from here down to Looking Glass Creek, is a damp one...

North Face Trail @ Gumstead Branch -- 3,000'

Looking back after crossing Gumstead Branch. Just as fair warning, this little stream can transform into a surprisingly troublesome obstacle after a bit of rain...

North Face Trail -- 3,020'

Climbing from the creek the rhodo tunnel continues...

North Face Trail -- 3,040'

The trail gets a bit damp at times as it pulls up close to this tiny tributary of Gumstand Branch...

North Face Trail -- 3,060'

Up through a tall forest of hardwoods...

North Face Trail -- 3,100'

This tiny trailside cascade beckons a quick pause...

North Face Trail -- 3,100'

Tiny but beautiful...

North Face Trail -- 3,120'

Pulling away from the small stream the trail now turns to climb the broad ridge to the north of Looking Glass...

North Face Trail -- 3,160'

Suddenly, the hulking form of Looking Glass itself appears through the forest above...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

The going flattens out a bit as the path meanders around the ridge...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

Turning towards the massive wall...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

Pictures don't do justice to how truly imposing Looking Glass appears towering above at this point...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

Looking down the adjacent slope...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

The sheer incredible size of Looking Glass viewed from this approach is hard to convey...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

The sheer incredible size of Looking Glass viewed from this approach is hard to convey...

North Face Trail -- 3,160'

The trail dips a bit just before starting the final climb through the boulder field at the base of the cliffs...

North Face Trail -- 3,160'

Looking way up as the trail begins its final climb through the boulderfield...

North Face Trail -- 3,180'

Watching your step is important here but it's incredibly hard not to keep looking up...

North Face Trail -- 3,220'

As you can see this is by far the steepest portion of the trail. It's short though...

North Face Trail -- 3,250'

Approaching the massive north face...

North Face Trail -- 3,250'

The trail ends at a literal wall of rock...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

I'm not sure how high the visible wall is at this point but it has to be, at minimum, 200 feet...it's incredible...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

To the left the towering rock walls even overhang a bit...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

There's plenty of opportunity to explore along the base if one would so choose...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Looking up at the North Face of Looking Glass Rock...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Looking up at the North Face of Looking Glass Rock...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Looking up at the North Face of Looking Glass Rock...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

I highly recommend scrambling up to the left, where a massive rock amphitheater is located just above...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Awestruck...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Again, photos simply don't do justice to the massive scale of the wall here...this amphitheater of towering, overhanging granite is jaw-dropping...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Looking waaaay up...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Looking behind, where you've just climbed from, the curving North Face of Looking Glass frames the view of the Pisgah Ridge far beyond...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

A panorama from the same spot as the previous shot...

North Face of Looking Glass Rock -- 3,250'

Looking down at the upper terminus of the North Face Trail from below the amphitheater.