Enjoy The Serenity Of The Green Knob Trail
This week I woke up early and set out to hike the Green Knob Trail before the afternoon warmth came. From Boone I started out on the parkway going south.
A couple minutes into my trip a deer ran across the road in front of me. Thankfully, the speed limit was only 35mph at that portion of the parkway so I did not even have to slow down before the deer was safely to the other side of the parkway.
As I continued south for a while, I came to “Sims Pond Overlook”. By stopping to read the nice wooden map I noticed the Green Knob Trail began just beyond Sims Pond.
Welcomed by wildflowers, I followed a dirt path to the Sims Pond Bridge past the Pond, and into the woods. Rhododendron bushes point hikers in the right direction as well as giving the atmosphere a distinct smell.
Once I was in the forest and on my way, I glanced down at some unusual leaves that happened to catch my eye. Immediately I was down on my hands and knees taking photographs of this greenery that was covered in water droplets.
This wonder occurs the morning after a heavy mountain rain. Water drops are left behind as the downpour ceases and the sun comes up. The rays of light pass through each drop and give it a shimmer affect.
It’s a photographers dream to be able to capture this magic on camera. The whole forest seemed to sparkle in the early morning sunlight from then on.
About halfway through the trail, hikers come upon a cow pasture. Thinking the entirety of the trail would be beside the creek, this surprised me. However, it turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the trail.
At the beginning there is a tree with its branches spread out to shade hikers from the direct sunlight. Under the branches is also a bench where I sat and rested for a while. All that could be heard was the sound of bugs buzzing around the wildflowers and tall grass.
Serenity can be found under that tree as you glance out over the sunny hills. After walking a while through the grass and back into the woods, I came upon another tree with a bench under it. This one was significantly larger than the other and had an incredible view.
As I stopped to sit on the bench, I gazed ahead to what seemed to be a hole in the tops of the trees. Mountains off in the distance and clouds could be clearly seen from this hole.
The rest of the trail was down hill and passed through another portion of a pasture. This path was narrow and clearly lined with plants on either side. Before long, the trail flattened out and ended on the parkway across the road from the beginning of the trail.
The Green Knob Trail was a moderate hike that doesn’t lack changes of scenery or places to rest your feet! I recommend you check out this trail and bring your friends along for a good hike.
