Sam Knob Summit Trail (#617A)
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Route map of the Sam Knob Summit Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Sam Knob Summit Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Sam Knob Summit/Sam Knob Trail Junction -- 5,660'
The lower terminus of the Sam Knob Summit Trail is here, at its junction with the Sam Knob Trail alongside a large grassy field. The spot is about a half-mile west, via the Sam Knob Trail, from the parking lot at the end of Black Balsam Road...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,660'
Looking across the open field at the trails lower terminus, towards Black Balsam Knob (6,214')...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,670'
The forest immediately pushes in close as the trail begins its climb...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,700'
The popularity of Sam Knob as a hiking destination has, unfortunately, resulted in some rather unattractive stretches of trail...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,750'
Every so often the laurels give way to extensive groves of ragged yellow birch...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,780'
Switching back the trail now cuts through a dense laurel hedge...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,840'
This is probably the most challenging portion of the trail as it curves sharply upward through a number of large boulders...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,900'
This stairway is a welcome sight on the climb up Sam Knob as, above it, the eye-candy begins in earnest...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,920'
Looking back above the steps...Black Balsam Knob (6,214') rises just to the east...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,930'
Out in the open now, the view ahead includes Little Sam Knob (5,862') on the left and Mount Hardy (6,110') straight ahead...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,930'
A small outcrop just off the trail provides this awesome view of Black Balsam Knob (6,214')...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,930'
The full panorama from the small outcrop, just off the trail, on the south side of Sam Knob. Black Balsam Knob (6,214') is on the far left, Chestnut Bald (6,025') is one of the broad bumps on the ridge in the center, and Little Sam Knob (5,862') rises on the right...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,940'
Looking across the valley of Flat Laurel Creek, as the trail now rounds the south side of the summit ridge...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,950'
The trail climbs around to the west side of the summit via a few quick jumps up some large boulders...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,980'
The trail as it emerges onto the west side of the open summit ridge...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 5,990'
A few ledges, lying just below the South Summit, can be seen poking through the shrubs above...
Sam Knob Summit Trail -- 6,000'
The popularity of this trail is evidenced in deeply eroded cuts like you see here, where runoff has sliced deep into the fragile summit soil...
Sam Knob Summit Trail (North/South Summit Split) -- 6,020'
This lonely rhododendron marks the point where the trail splits, at the midway point between Sam Knob's twin summits. To the left is the North Summit and to the right is the South Summit...
Sam Knob Summit Trail (North Summit) -- 6,030'
Starting up the gentle grassy slope to the North Summit...
Sam Knob Summit Trail (North Summit) -- 6,040'
The trail passes this huge outcrop of snowy quartz, with its stunning view across to Fork Ridge, just before reaching the summit...
Sam Knob Summit Trail (North Summit) -- 6,040'
The trail as it curves its way up the last few feet to the North Summit...
Sam Knob (North Summit) -- 6,050'
Welcome to the north summit of Sam Knob...