Elliott's Knob in the Snow

Augusta County's Highest Mountain, a Magical World


Approaching the summit of Elliott's Knob.

The sunlight on Saturday morning illuminated the snow on the mountains, beckoning the hearty to hike them. Elliott's Knob called from the West, and I was in the mood for adventure. Driving along route 42 the snow was deep enough to make me wonder if there would be a place to pull off of the road (and get out again).

The forest service road had been packed down enough to allow for a bit of artful maneuvering into a safe spot. One set of boot prints led up the trail to Falls Hollow and I followed them.

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Falls Hollow on Elliott's Knob

A Quiet Mountain Hollow Stream Awaits...


Falls Hollow, pictures taken in September of 2009.









...and a Rugged Hike Awaits as Well

One of my favorite places to hike is the trail up Elliott's Knob [or Elliott Knob]. I'm pretty sure I saw it as Elliott's on a Jedediah Hotchkiss map so I'm sticking with it. The trail makes its way up Falls Hollow along this little stream.

Here are More Pictures [click to view] taken along the trail up Elliott's Knob.


Coming out of Falls Hollow, hikers find a rugged mountain road to the top.


Abandoned fire tower at the summit.


Looking up at the fire tower.


Almost to the top, where a view awaits...


...of the Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

Elliott's Knob as seen from Little North Mountain.

Fir Trees Reflected Atop Elliott's Knob

Near the Summit of Augusta's Highest Peak


Fir trees are reflected in a pool built for wildlife as a water hole.


Deep fir forest at the summit.


The view looking East.


The view looking West.

The Fire Tower Atop Elliott's Knob

Tower on 4463' Mountain Recalls Another Era




























There was a time, and not really that long ago, when protecting forests from destruction by fire included manning towers such as this with fire spotters. The abandoned tower on Elliotts Knob stands as a tribute to the men and women who performed this solitary work.

Sharp Top, Virginia's Fuji

View from Abbott Lake Recalls a Japanese Scene


The Symmetry of Sharp Top as seen from Abbott Lake...

“From Otter's summit, Virginia's loftiest peak, To crown a monument To Virginia's noblest son.” -- Inscription from the Virginia Stone in the Washington Monument.


...and her rugged summit call to mind Japan's Fuji.


The stone steps seem like something from Tolkein's stories.

Once thought to be the highest peak in Virginia, Sharp Top stone was used to carve the Virginia stone in the Washington Monument, which was completed in 1884. The engraved stone block recognizes 3,875-foot Sharp Top Mountain as Virginia's highest peak. Later it was thought that 4463-foot Elliott's Knob in Augusta County was the highest. More sophisticated measuring techniques confirmed that 5,729-foot Mount Rogers was indeed Virginia's Highest Mountain.

A 3.2 mile round-trip hike takes you to the top and back.


Boulders at the summit.








A shelter is nestled in the rocks near the top.




Abbott Lake and Peaks of Otter Lodge are seen in the distance.

Hiking Elliott's Knob

Augusta's Tallest Mountain Up Close


The fire tower on top of Elliott's Knob

You can hike to the top of Elliott's Knob from four different directions. I've done it from the old Parkersburg Turnpike South along the ridge. I've come North along the ridge too. I've even come up the trail on the Western face but the trail most people prefer is the one through Falls Hollow. I've done that one more than once.

Here are Pictures [click to view] of the hike up Fall's Hollow. The portion from Virginia Route 42 through Falls Hollow is fairly moderate in difficulty but the trek up the road to the top can be pretty strenuous.


Ice on Elliott's Knob.

Falls Hollow on Elliott's Knob

A Quiet Mountain Hollow Stream Awaits...


Falls Hollow, pictures taken in September of this year.









...and a Rugged Hike Awaits as Well

One of my favorite places to hike is the trail up Elliott's Knob [or Elliott Knob]. I'm pretty sure I saw it as Elliott's on a Jedediah Hotchkiss map so I'm sticking with it. The trail makes its way up Falls Hollow along this little stream.

Here are More Pictures [click to view] taken along the trail up Elliott's Knob.


Coming out of Falls Hollow, hikers find a rugged mountain road to the top.


Abandoned fire tower at the summit.


Looking up at the fire tower.


Almost to the top, where a view awaits...


...of the Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

Elliott's Knob as seen from Little North Mountain.