Waterrock Knob

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Waterrock Knob

| other_name =

| photo = Waterrock Knob viewed from the Plott Balsams overlook, May 2017 3.jpg

| photo_caption = Waterrock Knob viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway

| elevation_ft = 6292

| elevation_ref =

| prominence_ft = 1947

| prominence_ref =

| location = Haywood / Jackson Counties, North Carolina, U.S.

| range = Plott Balsams
Blue Ridge Mountains

| coordinates = {{coord|35.464268|-83.137643|type:mountain_region:US|display=inline,title}}

| topo = USGS Sylva North

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route = Hike

}}

Waterrock Knob{{gnis|996851|Waterrock Knob}} is a mountain peak in the U.S. state of North Carolina.{{cite web |url={{gnis3|996851}} |title=Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: Waterrock Knob |access-date=2007-07-11 }} It is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 16th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=21450 |title=Peakbagger.com - Southern Appalachian 6000-foot Peaks |access-date=2007-07-09 }}

The mountain is a popular destination with tourists and amateur hikers, as it is easily accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. A visitors' center is located near its summit and a hiking trail leads to its top. The hiking trail and visitors' center are staffed and maintained by the National Park Service, part of the United States Department of the Interior.

Name

Waterrock Knob is named as such because of a spring located near the summit where hunters would refill their canteens.Powell, William. The North Carolina Gazetteer, 2nd Ed. Univ of North Carolina Press. (2010). pp. 551. {{ISBN|9780807898291}}.Lemon, Cindy. Southern Appalachian Day Hikes. (2015). {{ISBN|9781329597389}}.

Geography

With an elevation of {{convert|6292|ft|m}}, Waterrock Knob is the highest peak in the Plott Balsams and is the 13th-highest mountain in the Eastern United States if using a {{convert|160|ft|m}} prominence rule.{{cite peakbagger |pid=7831 |name=Waterrock Knob, North Carolina |access-date=2017-09-10}}

The mountain is split by both Haywood and Jackson counties in the western mountains of North Carolina. The mountain's summit is located within the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service unit. Cherokee is located about {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the west, while Richland Balsam is located about {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the southeast.{{cite topoquest|quad=Waterrock Knob, NC|url=https://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=35.464268&lon=-83.137643&datum=nad27&zoom=8&map=auto&coord=d&mode=zoomin&size=m|accessdate=10 September 2017}}

Hiking

Waterrock Knob's summit can be accessed from the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, located a milepost 451.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This {{convert|0.6|mi|km}} long trail ascends over {{convert|400|ft|m}} from visitor center's parking lot and is paved for the first quarter mile.[http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway-place/waterrock-knob/ Waterrock Knob, Milepost 451.2]. Virtual Blue Ridge. Retrieved 10 September 2017.Jabado, Salwa. Fodor's The Carolinas and Georgia. (2009). Fodor's Travel Publications. pp. 169. {{ISBN|9781400008087}}.