Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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35.20800°N / 81.313°W |
Route Type:
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Hike, with some light scrambling. |
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Time Required:
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Half a day |
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Difficulty:
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Strenuous walk-up. |
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Approach
The trail begins at the signed area just beside the Crowder's Mountain State Park office and visitor's center.Route Description
The trail begins at the signed area just beside the Crowder's Mountain State Park office and visitor's center. The length of the Pinnacle Trail is 1.7 miles. The first half mile or so is level and graded and easy to walk.
As the trail begins to climb toward a rocky ridgeline, one sees another trail on the right which leads down to the backcountry campsites inside the park. Bypass this side trail and continue on, coming to some rugged areas that follow the top of the ridge. The trail continues steadily upslope, but not too steeply, until one passes over the ridge, into a shallow gap, and then up toward the true peak of King's Pinnacle. The last third mile of this trail is pretty strenuous climbing with about 400 vertical feet to cover in that distance, with some scrambling just before making the final ridgetop.
There are no creeks or springs along this trail. It gets really hot here in the summer, so make sure you take plenty of water along. Total elevation gain on this trail is about 800 feet.
