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)
Really nice hike! It is well marked, fun rock scramble, and has amazing views. We almost missed the vista because we were not reading the hikingupwards directions! We met some other people that told us you can take Sam Clark Road (just a little before you arrive at the parking lot on the left) and there is another trail head there. That is only a thirty min hike and just along the ridge, if you want to avoid the steep inclines of the hike from the wolf gap parking lot.
By:
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Date of Hike: Sunday, October 23, 2011
Don't let the scrambles scare you away from the great views and the very small (if any) crowds. Starting out from the parking lot at 11am, with some time spent at the top (and a few more to catch my breath) we finished this hike in 3 hours.
As for the scrambles, they are 2 different spans, just long enough to make you breath hard, and unless you've got a pack (or kid) on your back, you won't have to use your hands but for a couple times. But watch your step on the way back down, its no run if you roll an ankle on the way back to the car.
On a side note, because we went early and in the fall, I wish we had taken the dogs. Our older golden retriever and a mutt about the same size would have really loved the hike and would have been waiting for us at the at the top of each scramble.
Looking to make a weekend out of this (and Big Schloss) by camping at the top.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 17, 2011
We hiked Big Schloss & Tibbet Knob together. Both hikes took about 5 hours with lots of stoping for pictures. I am giving this a 4 star as both hikes but if I was only doing one hike at a time I am sure it would only be a 3 star. The Views were great the hand over hand hiking was ok on Tibbet Knob. We hiked this on a rainy day and still ran into lots of hikers and campers so solitude is like a 0. But overall a good hike great workout doing both hikes
By:
Brandon
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Date of Hike: Friday, September 02, 2011
The hike was a lot of fun. The rock scramblers were the best feature as well as some of the views. The camping area at the last summit would be awesome for camping. Really nice area and very enjoyable.
By:
Melissa
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Date of Hike: Saturday, June 04, 2011
Did this trail for a trail run/ hike with my dog. Great trail with a good variety of types paths, steep and even, and scenery. Saw a bunch of big wild turkeys. Some of the tree flowers were in bloom and made the run through the woods really pretty. I had fun with the rock scrambles and running through the rocky paths. Nice view at the top. Perfect length, about 4.5mi up and down. Only saw a few other people, had the trail to myself for the most part.
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