Looking Glass Rock a geological feature known as a " Pluton," (a big ball of granite rock, that went cold on its way to the surface, in a Volcano.) Viewed from a National American Byway, Blue Ridge Parkway, Mile Post 417. The viewing coordinates are N 35° 19.301 W 082° 49.681 & are as shown on Virtual Globetrotting. Looking glass rock is located S.E. of the viewing location, at the coordinates shown for this listing.
If you zoom this listings map on satellite view, the massive 4,000 feet high rock can be seen in all its splendour.
From the photos you can see why they call it the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The road in the winter is often closed. The smaller Visitor Centres are open in Late April for the Summer only.
The sheer face of Looking Glass Rock, located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina, makes it one of the best rock climbing venues in the State. The awesome landmark is an attraction for hikers, sightseers, and photographers.
From Wikipedia:
"Looking Glass Rock is a pluton monolith in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. The mountain is located within Pisgah National Forest about 5.5 miles northwest of Brevard and 25 miles southwest of Asheville. Named for the way its granite face reflects the sunshine, it rises from the valley floor to an elevation of almost 4000 ft.
Trails from Forest Service Road 475 and 475B lead to the top of the mountain. It is a moderate/strenuous trail climbing 1700 ft over 3.1 miles to its peak where panoramic views can be seen. There is a flat slab on the top, that can be used as a helipad.
Looking Glass Rock is a popular rock climbing destination. Whether it is free climbing, multi-pitch or aid climbing, dozens of routes traverse the South Face, North Face, Nose Area, Sun Wall, Invisible Wall and Hidden Wall to the top of the mountain.
From the top of Looking Glass Rock, panoramic views can be seen of the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding mountains of Transylvania County." Text Source: (
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From the Blue Ridge Heritage Website:
"The sheer face of Looking Glass Rock, located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC, makes it one of the best rock climbing venues in the state. The striking landmark is also an attraction for hikers, sightseers, and photographers.
Rising to 3,969 feet, Looking Glass Rock is comprised of exposed Whiteside granite that was formed approximately 390 million years ago. Geologists refer to it as a "pluton," a big ball of granitic rock that would have become a volcano had it not cooled before it reached the earth's surface. The name "Looking Glass" is derived from its appearance when rainwater freezes on its surface and reflects the sun like a mirror.: Text Source: (
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"Looking Glass Rock itself is a pluton. Speaking geologically for a moment, a pluton is a big ball of molten magma that would have liked to make it to the surface to become the more popularly known 'volcano.' However the magma (which would have liked to make it to the surface so it could be called the easier to pronounce 'lava') cooled before it made it to the surface, or erupted. So this big ball of granitic rock lay under the surface of the Blue Ridge mountains in their early formation. As time and weather slowly wore down our mountains (mostly gneiss), this ball of stone became exposed. Wow! To see Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway, it looks like a great stone dome... which is what it is. Hiking it to the top affords one a fantastic view. A similar hike a little bit to the Southwest is John Rock. After hiking this trail, tell your friends you've scaled a granitic pluton." (
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