Old Butt Knob Trail Map

"Go Big or Go Home"

GPS Coordinates: 35.36404, -82.86379 (Shining Rock Gap Trail Junction)

GPS Coordinates: 35.35846, -82.82117 (Shining Creek Trail Junction)

Album Direction-Of-Travel: Eastbound

Highlights: Arguably the Hardest Trail in the District, Shining Rock, Shining Rock Wilderness, Views

Length (one-way): 3.6 miles

Petzoldt Rating: 8.80 (E to W); 4.60 (W to E)

Difficulty: EXTREME

Total Elevation Gain: 2,600' (E to W); 500' (W to E)

Elevation Gain/Mile: 722'/mile (E to W); 139'/mile (W to E)

Min. Elevation: 3,680'

Max. Elevation: 6,000'

Blaze Color: NONE

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Shining Creek/Old Butt Knob Loop

Shining Rock (2013)

Shining Rock Loop

Connecting Trails:

Art Loeb Trail (#146)

Ivestor Gap Trail (#101)

Shining Creek Trail (#363)

Old Butt Knob Trail (#332)

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,500'
The drop from Old Butt Knob back down to the Shining Creek Trail is no joke. In the next mile the trail drops over 1,600-feet...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,460'
A brief opening provides a glimpse of the ridges to the south. At this point the trail is approaching one of the two overlooks located along this steep stretch. So start keeping an eye out for spur paths...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,450'
A rocky, galax-lined trail...
Old Butt Knob Trail @ Upper Ledge Overlook -- 5,440'
Not far to the east of Old Butt an unsigned spur breaks right through the laurel. This is the path to the upper of the two overlooks along this stretch of the Old Butt Knob Trail...
Old Butt Knob Trail @ Upper Ledge Overlook -- 5,440'
The spur to the upper overlook...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Upper Ledge Overlook) -- 5,440'
The spur quickly emerges atop this small outcrop...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Upper Ledge Overlook) -- 5,440'
The panorama from the upper overlook on the Old Butt Knob Trail...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Upper Ledge Overlook) -- 5,440'
Due south rises the massive dome of Black Balsam Knob (6,214')...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Upper Ledge Overlook) -- 5,440'
Somewhere, over 1,500-feet below, is Shining Creek...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Upper Ledge Overlook) -- 5,440'
A more tightly zoomed shot of Black Balsam Knob (6,214') to the south...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,350'
Back on the main trail as it departs the upper overlook...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,300'
The descent hasn't gotten too crazy yet, but that's not going to last long...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,250'
Slowly losing the high-elevation forest...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,200'
A beautiful spot with the laurels carpeted beneath by green sprouts of galax...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,150'
This campsite sits right at the top of the point where the trail begins its final plunge off the end of the ridge. In the next 3/4-mile it will be losing over 1,200-feet of elevation...a grade that rivals the steepest trails anywhere in the southern mountains...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,100'
The trail as it begins its plunge off the east end of the ridge...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,000'
Along this uppermost section of the drop there are at least a few tight switchbacks to help a bit...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,900'
The steepness of the grade allows for frequent views through the treetops below...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,800'
Looking back upwards to give you an idea of what grade the trail is involved in at this point...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,700'
In some places you'll literally be dropping down off low ledges, so the branches close at hand can be of great assistance...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,600'
Looking back up another particularity rugged drop...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,500'
Having dirt, rather than bare rock underfoot on the rare occasion, is almost a treat...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,460'
Flattening out briefly...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,420'
The trail now crosses this pine-covered series of boulders. The lower overlook is just below this spot...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Lower Ledge Overlook) -- 4,380'
Just below the pines in the previous shot an obvious scramble path leads up to a ledge on the right. This is the lower of the two overlooks along the Old Butt Knob Trail...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Lower Ledge Overlook) -- 4,380'
The view that greets your eyes as you step out onto the lower overlook is stunning. Over a thousand feet below is the narrow valley of Shining Creek while across the way is the incredibly rugged and steep face of Raven Cliff Ridge...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Lower Ledge Overlook) -- 4,380'
Some early budding trees add their own subtle touch to the beauty of the scene...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Lower Ledge Overlook) -- 4,380'
Looking up the valley of Shining Creek from the lower overlook...
Old Butt Knob Trail (Lower Ledge Overlook) -- 4,380'
A zoomed shot looking across to the rugged Raven Cliff Ridge with the valley of Shining Creek cutting beneath to the right...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,300'
Your legs have probably appreciated the brief break, but now it's time to get back to work...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,200'
Diving back into the rhododendron...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,100'
No switchbacks to be had here...it's just straight downhill...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 4,000'
Now some laurel tunneling...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 3,900'
This shot shows just how fast the trail is losing elevation. Only a few pictures prior you were up at the lower overlook, viewing Raven Cliff Ridge at about an even level...now, already, it's once again towering above me...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 3,800'
The insane grade doesn't let up for a second...
Old Butt Knob/Shining Creek Trail Junction -- 3,680'
Just like that the Old Butt Knob Trail dumps you out at the Shining Creek Trail, its lower terminus. This spot is about 3/4-mile above the Shining Creek Trailhead...
Old Butt Knob Trail -- 3,700'
The Old Butt Knob Trail as it drops into the Shining Creek Trail, which marks its lower terminus. This spot is about 3/4-mile above the Shining Creek Trailhead...
Old Butt Knob/Shining Creek Trail Junction -- 3,680'
The Old Butt Knob Trail (right) as it drops into the Shining Creek Trail, marking its lower terminus. This spot is about 3/4-mile above the Shining Creek Trailhead.