This trip was taken in the summer of 2019

Sitting at 2,579 ft on Moore’s Knob, the highest peak in the Sauratown Mountains in Stokes County, North Carolina, I heard a young boy say to his parents, “I Want To Take The Views With Me!” I couldn’t help but agree with him.

Moore’s Knob summit is home to a beautiful stone lookout tower with incredible 360° views of Winston-Salem, Pilot Mountain, and tips of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Moore’s Knob lives within Hanging Rock State Park…& it’s just one of many beautiful hiking, climbing & biking trails the park has to offer.

Moore’s Knob Trail is made up of amazing rock formations including treasures like rock caves, teetering rocks & animal shaped rocks! I see an elephant blowing his trunk in the 3rd image below…anyone else?!

At the summit, there are layers of large quartz cliffs which look like slabs broken in place, fragmented like puzzle pieces. The colors on the rocks blend together like water & sand when waves crash on the seashore. White & black, gray & green, yellow & orange, pink & red; none of the colors seem to be permanent, instead they appear to be in motion…invariably changing.

It is 5pm. The sun is beaming through the clouds like spotlights to my left. On my right, there is dark sky, what appears to be a dark cloud…thunder can be heard close by.

It was a wall of rain…not just a dark cloud!

I heard drops in the distance & when I looked up, all I could see was a WALL of rain moving directly toward me. I quickly packed up my stuff & bolted to the tower which had roof coverage & a room underneath if I really needed it! The only other people on the summit at this point, was a young couple who joined me under the roof of the fire tower. Some small talk uncovered that both were native residents to the Triad area – she loves living here; he wanted out. He wanted to be around less people. Sounds like a story I may have heard before…

It wasn’t raining nearly as hard as anticipated, & the trail offered much tree coverage, so I decided to make my move for descent. My chosen descent form was to jog – down the hundreds (there must be hundreds…there were so many!) of beautiful rock steps. I was wearing my camelbak for the first time hiking…usually I’d be carrying my water bottle in one hand, phone in the other, & headphones strung through the neck of my shirt.

I was wearing my Camelbak…Thank God my hands were free!

Because…I inevitably tripped & went head first down those beautiful rock steps! I actually managed to turn it into a sideways somersault & start running when I rolled back to my feet…but HOT DAMN! I am asked quite regularly, “Where’d you get that bruise/scratch/scar’?” …Usually my answer consists of a story like this…

I really enjoyed the Moore’s Knob Trail. Very rocky, very natural. I’d say it’s a moderate to hard hike. At 4.3 miles round trip, it’s a fun, challenging workout, without being overwhelming! #imho

My sources:
Moore’s Knob
Sauratown Mountains