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Huckleberry Knob (5,560 ft.) via the Cherohala Skyway – 3/16/19

As I previously posted in our part 1 trip, we really were set on exploring this area of the Skyway and hoping to knock out some nice hikes as long as the weather cooperated with us. We were just in the area earlier in the week with the whole family as we quickly summited the nearby Hooper Bald. This time around we decided to leave the girls at home as Elizabeth and I ventured out on a Day Hike Saturday to the same area we just visited but with plans to snagging another peak and hoping to get some better views as opposed to the rainy previous Monday at Hooper.

We started the day in Tellico Plains grabbing lunch at the famous Tellico Grains Bakery. After indulging ourselves with the necessary fuel of sticky buns and apple turnovers we decided it was time to make our way up the mountain to Huckleberry Knob. “The Knob” can be found just past the Hooper Bald parking area with the bald plainly visible from the road. The Parking lot is not as big as Hooper but there is plenty of overflow parking available down from the main lot.

The trail is really an access road that is not really maintained as there was plenty of brush and tree blowdowns throughout the 1.25 mile climb it takes to summit the knob. This day the trail was really wet and was almost washed out in places. This isn’t a problem if you are wearing proper footwear but be advised regardless. The climb takes you to a smaller but good sized bald first before eventually reaching the larger Knob/Bald. As you reach the final destination you will pass a grave that is marked with a very large cross. Once at the top of this Bald, soak in the sunshine and gaze in the almost 360 degree view of mountains around as you can easily point out and follow the Cherohala Skyway snaking around the immediate areas of Hooper Bald and Huckleberry Knob.