Tibbet Knob is the sister hike to Big Schloss. Starting from the same parking location at the Wolf Gap Campground the hike heads in the opposite direction along the Tibbet Knob Trail. Although shorter, this hike is not as family friendly because of two short, steep scrambles to the main Tibbet Knob summit.
Big Schloss is one of the most well know, and most panoramic hikes in the region, with an almost 270° vista from the main overlook. Tibbet Knob is nearly identical in distance to the Big Schloss hike, and is every bit as spectacular. Boasting a wider and more spectacular panorama to the north and west, a wonderful vista just below the high point to the east, and probably the most perfectly placed campsite in the whole Great North Mountain area!
Where the Big Schloss hike can draw many people on nicer days, the Tibbet Knob hike generally has a fraction the number of hikers. For vista after vista, without the crowds, this hike is hard to beat.
From the parking area cross VA675 and start up the yellow blazed Tibbet Knob Trail. In 0.5 miles cross over a small summit that provides great views of Big Schloss and Mill Mountain to the northeast.
After crossing the small summit the trail descends, then veers right between the ridges, before turning back to the left steeply uphill. In 0.4 miles from starting up the main ridge, climb the first of two steep sections that may require hand over hand climbing. Both are only 20-30 yards in length.
At the top of the first steep section the trail passes through a flat area before you reach the second steep area. After reaching the top of this scramble follow the trail for the remaining 200 yards to the top of Tibbet Knob, and pass through a thicket to one of the most spectacular overlooks in the whole region. Twenty feet past the overlook there is a great campsite that could accommodate two small tents.
To return just follow the trail back to the Wolf Gap Campground.
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Reviews For The Tibbet Knob Hike (5 Most Recent)
I have been hiking Big Schloss three times already but never Tibbet Knob. We were originally going to hike Strickler Knob today, but the road up to Strickler knob were covered in ice. We were able to get to the parking lot for Tibbet knob without any problem. The hike is only 1.6 miles to the top, but it is very beautiful with snow still cover the ground. Perfect distance for a hike after a major snow storm. I would rate this hike and the view from 4.5 stars to 5 stars. I would definitely hike this trail again, specially right after snow storm to see all the fresh snow landscape.
By:
JEF
Rating:
Date of Hike: Thursday, October 18, 2012
Always do a hike on my birthday so I selected this one and glad I did. The fall colors were great. I was surprised we saw no one else on the way up and only two other couples on the way down. It was overcast, cool and a good workout during the climb up. The trail was easy to follow, well blazed. The rock scrambles were pretty easy to negotiate. The view at the top was fantastic. The leaf colors were great. I am ready to plan an overnight trip to the top. See http://youtu.be/LwTjkPLNX9U
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, September 02, 2012
Really good hike...I swear it was longer than three miles though! Beautiful woods along the way with moss and lichens covering everything. Rock scrambles were a little tougher because it was raining and views were impeded by clouds, but still a lot of fun. Probably not quite as good a view as Big Schloss (which we did the previous day) but a better, more interesting hike to the overlook.
The trail appeared to keep going after the overlook. We followed it for about 1/4 mile but turned back because rain was so hard. Gorgeous camping site at the top!
By:
Phil and Sandy
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 04, 2012
First I should point out an error in the trail desctiption. After the second rock scramble the overlook is not 200 yards away, more like 20 yards and you can see it as soon as you reach the top of the second scramble.
We're in our late fifties, with BMIs where they should be, and made the trip in 1 hour 25 minutes going up and one hour coming down with several stops to catch our breaths. This was a fine hike even in the hottest part of the summer, however the flies and misquitoes were so bad for the first few hundred yards we were ready to turn back. Glad we didn't, because the bugs dissipated after a while and we would have missed a great, wide open view at the top of this mountain -- unspoiled and refreshing.
Granted, we started out at 12 noon in hot and humid conditions, but we saw no one on the way up and only had a pair of visitors after we had been on the top for about 20 minutes snacking and taking in the view. Passed no one on the way down.
We would do this one again, especially in autumn, just for the great view, but the hike is also varied with changing path conditions and different growth along the way.
By:
NAS
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 18, 2012
We've been to Wolf Gap a few times prior, either to just camp or to do Big Schloss. This is the first time I actually saw a TOUR BUS amble into parking lot. Kinda ridiculous. We didn't see them on the trail so I'm imagining they were heading to Schloss. Anyway, Tibbet's Knob is a nice, quick hike. The two rock scrambles aren't much, so don't let them deter you. We took advantage of the campsite up-top, making a quick fire and roasting some weiners. Almost got hit by two different emergency vehicles who were cutting corners, presumably trying to respond to something @ Schloss.
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