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Outdoors Parkway MP 451, Cherokee

Waterrock Knob

An outdoor spot in Parkway MP 451, Cherokee, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Waterrock Knob in Parkway MP 451, Cherokee
Photo: Thomson200 · CC0

Why go

Short summit trail from the Parkway with 360-degree views.

It is one of 13 curated places we feature in Cherokee, alongside 5 sights, 2 places to eat and 2 outdoor spots. The closest of our other picks is Granny's Kitchen, 8.5 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Sight
Neighborhood
Parkway MP 451
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Cherokee, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Granny's Kitchen

    Southern buffet of fried chicken, vegetables and cobbler in Cherokee.

    Food · 8.5 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Mingo Falls

    One of the tallest falls in the southern Appalachians, 120 ft, on Cherokee land.

    Outdoors · 9.0 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Oconaluftee Visitor Center & Mountain Farm Museum

    Smokies visitor center with historic farm buildings; elk often graze nearby.

    Sight · 10.0 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Peter's Pancakes & Waffles

    Cherokee breakfast spot by the river, a local standby.

    Food · 10.0 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual

    Cherokee artists' cooperative selling baskets, pottery and carvings.

    Shopping · 10.0 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Museum of the Cherokee People

    Museum telling the Cherokee story from earliest times to today.

    Sight · 10 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Waterrock Knob is a stop on our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More outdoor spots in Cherokee

Another curated outdoor spot in Cherokee. See the full Cherokee guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Cherokee run from 45°F in January to 84°F in August; July is usually the wettest month. For Waterrock Knob itself, we suggest: Sunset.

Modelled monthly averages for Cherokee from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Cherokee weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Waterrock Knob, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Road to, Rd to Waterrock Knob, Sylva, NC 28779, USA
Coordinates
35.46032, -83.14091
Destination
Cherokee, North Carolina

Waterrock Knob: quick answers

How much time do you need at Waterrock Knob?

Plan on about an hour at Waterrock Knob. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Waterrock Knob?

Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Popular sunset spot.

Is Waterrock Knob free?

Yes, we list Waterrock Knob as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Waterrock Knob?

Waterrock Knob is at Road to, Rd to Waterrock Knob, Sylva, NC 28779, USA, in Parkway MP 451. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Waterrock Knob?

Waterrock Knob appears on Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Waterrock Knob to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Cherokee.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.