Mountain Project Logo

Looking Glass Rock Road Access

Original Post
Peter Oas · · Asheville, NC · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 10

Does anyone know if 475B, the road up to the Southside and The Nose area of Looking Glass will be open tomorrow? If not, is there any other easy access point to get up to those routes? Thanks y'all!

Barrett Pauer · · Brevard, NC · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 775

I heard it was closed. Parking at the bottom and waking to the Southside isn't too bad.

nbrown · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 7,718

I'd recommend checking out Cedar Rock if you've never been. Probably be a lot less walking.

Also, maybe a good time to check out the Guides Wall, Fate Osteen, etc. at Looking Glass. They'll be much shorter walks as well.

Barrett Pauer · · Brevard, NC · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 775

If you are looking for climbs in the same range of Nose/Sundial, Fate Osteen and SouthSide of Cedar are worth checking out.

Mark O'Neal · · Nicholson, GA · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 3,323

Got any approach beta for Fate Osteen? I found where Brad posted a brief description to it last year. But maybe someone else has more specifics?

Benjamin A · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

Why is the road closed?

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

FS closes it every year to help preserve the road.

Barrett Pauer · · Brevard, NC · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 775

If you park at the fish hatchery you can take a right on to 475 and after ~100 yards you will see a pull out on your right, you want to be looking for a faint trail on the left side of the road heading up Fate Osteen Cove.

kyle howe · · Knoxville, TN · Joined May 2013 · Points: 394

I'm assuming the top of 475B is also closed, coming south from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Can anyone confirm this though? carolinaclimbers.org says the "top end is open."

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

They usually close both sides. But I haven't been up there. You can check on the fs website or call them

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

I like the extra walk to the south side, it means nobody will be there. Some weekends there is a line for the moderates, it is a nice change up and it saves the roads from local dummies.

Brian Payst · · Carrboro,NC · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 10
Khowe765 wrote:I'm assuming the top of 475B is also closed, coming south from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Can anyone confirm this though? carolinaclimbers.org says the "top end is open."
Sorry about that, that was from 2014. I updated it on the website. The closure notice from the Forest Service for January 2016 was:

SR 475B (Headwaters Road) from the intersection of FSR 475 (Davidson River Road, near the Pisgah Fish Hatchery), to Gumstand Gap (Sunwall Trailhead)

So, the top end may be open. Best bet would be to call the FS office and ask.
kyle howe · · Knoxville, TN · Joined May 2013 · Points: 394

Spoke with ranger station today. Ranger was not 100% sure the top gate of 475B was closed, but said that it more than likely was.

Benjamin A · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

How can I find out when the bottom gate opens?

rock-fencer · · Columbia, SC · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 265

they normally post on the Alerts page of the Forest service, but i cant find it. Regardless its closed for the rest of "winter" and will open in mid spring usually

Brian Payst · · Carrboro,NC · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 10

We post them on the Carolina climbers coalition website and Facebook page. The notices are in the forest alerts and warnings section on the USFS page. Right hand side at the top of the column. Direct link: fs.usda.gov/alerts/nfsnc/al…

The upper gate tends to open earlier than the lower one (that was something the CCC negotiated with the FS a couple of years ago to increase ease of access) but it all depends on weather.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
Post a Reply to "Looking Glass Rock Road Access"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.