Flat Top Lookout Tower, Blowing Rock

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
6/8/2024	5.1 miles	2 hours 29 minutes	580'	2.4 mph	408.1 miles

Parking: 

• Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 294

Map:

• Moses Cone Park Trails - Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Directions:

• From the parking lot, go downhill towards the restrooms. Continue along the trail under the BRP. Turn right and follow the sign to Flat Top Tower. Hike to the tower. Return the same way.

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• Lookout Tower Challenge

I scouted this hike early last year, as I was scheduled to lead it for the CMC. I ended up not leading it, because of my foot problems. This year I'm trying again. So, Glen and I went on another scouting hike. Parking was a little crowded, but we managed to get a spot. It's an easy hike on carriage roads with a gentle climb. It climbs through large wildflower filled meadows. We saw so many butterflies on the hike up. We skipped the stop at the Moses Cone Cemetery. Moses Cone was a denim manufacturer. Cone Denim still exists in Greensboro, NC. Oddly, on a sewing podcast I listen to, they were talking about the high quality of Cone denim. 

Photos in reverse order.

I struggled to capture photos of the butterflies.

A few of the mountains visible from the lookout tower.

Looking down on Krumm