Hiking the Looking Glass Rock

Trailhead of the Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina - Photo: Still Gravity.
The trailhead - License our images here.

The Looking Glass Rock is a huge monolith with shiny iced cliffs that work as mirrors for the sun in winter. The trail to the top is the most popular hike in Pisgah National Forest, so... we ended parking on the roadside - not much parking space at the trailhead. 

Many switchbacks in the first section of the climb. This is why many say that this trail is hard, but is not that bad. Moderate would be a better definition. 

At the end of the trail is the sloped flat with the reward for making the effort of walking up here.

Views of the Smoky mountains at the end of Looking Glass Trail, North Carolina - Photo: Stil Gravity.
Great views of the Smokies from the end of the Looking Glass Rock trail. 

We rested up there and ate a snack. Ten minutes later, arrived a bunch of young hikers that began to compete for the closest selfie to the edge of the cliff. Instagramic nonsense. A fall from this high is not joke. We left. 

On the way back, we stopped at every clearing hunting for good views. The best one was behind the helicopter landing zone - the faded H was barely visible on the naked rock. We were alone there until someone came. 

Treacherous roots hidden under autumn leaves waited for C in our way down. She stepped on one and slid. Harsh landing. Her hiking pole ended hanging at the edge of the cliff hold by a tree. Confused, she regained her footing. Nothing major. Only pain in one leg because of the phone in her pocket. 

Hiking risks and another day on a mountain trail.

Happy return to our campsite in the Davidson River Recreation Area.

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