Elk Knob State Park is a 1100 acre mountain state park with a picnic area, hiking trails, backpacking campsites, an amphitheater, and restrooms. Elk Knob via the Summit Trail is the main attraction with a trail rating of "Hard" because you continuously climb for nearly 1000 feet to reach the panoramic view from the cleared knob at 5520 feet.
We were all smiles at the beginning, but it didn't take long for the Summit Trail to wipe that off our faces.
Unusual to see that many Shelf Mushrooms on a tree.
One of several rest stops we took. The trail is well maintained with rock steps that aided our ascend in the particularly steep portions of the trail.
The Summit Trail wasn't no "white dot " trail but a blue diamond with many switchbacks. At a little more than a mile, Kelly decided she had enough, so Aaron didn't want mom to be alone, so he escorted her down the mountain while Gypsy and I continued to the top.
At the 1-mile post, the trail does a switchback at a clearing, and you have this view. Someone had said to us if you think you can't make it the rest of the way this would be a good place to turn around.
Finally, I made it to the top 5520 feet above sea level.
I have seen many impressive views while hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains, and this is just as beautiful as any of those were. Elk Knob and the Summit Trail is truly a classic North Carolina hike, and a must do if you're visiting Boone.
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