Hikes of WNC: Glassy Mountain at the Carl Sandburg Home

FLAT ROCK, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Glassy Mountain is the resident peak of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, the preserved farm of the famed North Carolina poet, located in Flat Rock, N.C. A beautiful network of trails eventually leads to a steep, but worthwhile, climb to Glassy Mountain Overlook.

Fast facts

• Glassy Mountain Overlook is the endpoint of the Carl Sandburg Home network of trails, which begins on Memminger Trail Loop before branching onto the Big Glassy Trail out-and-back. All told, expect a hike around 4 miles in length.
• The Carl Sandburg Home suffered significant damage to its trail infrastructure during Tropical Storm Helene, resulting in a detour added to part of the trail. These junctures are clearly marked with DETOUR and DO NOT ENTER signs when necessary.
• The way up Glassy Mountain is very steep, with around 600 feet of elevation climb from the parking lot. Plan to pack water and a small snack.
• In addition to the Glassy Mountain hike, there are several things to do at the Carl Sandburg Home, including house tours and visits to the goat farm, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Big rock Glassy Mountain

Parking for Glassy Mountain can be found in two places, both located on Little River Road. For our purposes, park in the main visitor lot for the Carl Sandburg Home, just a minute outside of the main drag of Flat Rock, N.C.

After picking up a trail map at the kiosk, head to the left, where the trail system begins with a flat, easy walk around Front Lake with a view of the Home and a Sandburg poem, “These Valleys Seem Old.”

“These Valleys Seem Old” by Carl Sandburg

The water never stops running in the stream
at the foot of the mountain,
Spring is over, green life comes up and shows itself
deep between the mountains,
On all sides. Force wakes up, young sheep bleat,
birds chirp learning to fly.
This mulberry thick with leaves was planted by a hand now forgotten. Who knows the name of it?

A kiosk offering trail maps for hikers.

A view of the Carl Sandburg Home from Front Lake.

Head left after parking to access the trails.

A quotation from Sandberg’s “These Valleys Seem Old” on signage preceding the trails.

Curving around the lake, notice signs warding off visitors from certain areas of the forest, as well as those pointing to a detour across the rocky base of the lake, both remnants of the damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024.

Some areas of the historic site are closed due to forest damage.

The first leg of the Glassy Mountain hike strolls through beautiful rhododendron bushes.

The stony Front Lake.

A small wooden bridge marking the detour across the lake.

Another detour sign and another wooden bridge across the damaged lakefront of Front Lake.

Part of Front Lake seen from the wooden detour bridge.

Once through the detour zone, walk up the embankment and hang left. Signage will mark the fork between the start of Memminger Trail Loop and the route toward the Sandburg Home.

Stay to your left to keep to the hiking trails.

The beginning of the Memminger Trail Loop.

Memminger Trail Loop is a steep climb in and of itself, but the ascent is mollified by a series of wooden steps and the natural beauty of the mossy rhododendron and pines.

Roots and rhododendron on Memminger Trail Loop.

Memminger Trail Loop is marked by many wooden, curving steps.

A look up at the pine needles.

After a short while, you will find yourself at another signage fork. Once again, hang left. To your right lies the way to the Sandburg Home. After craning up at the distant house from the parking lot, the white building is now visible through the trees. Can you spot it?

The Carl Sandburg Home through the trees.

Head left.

The rest of the Memminger Trail Loop section of the hike is pleasant and filled with notable curios, like a stretch of curling, rusted wire fence, roots like knobby fingers and small tree hollows. Another wooden bridge runs below a broad, bald rockface.

Old wire fencing on Memminger Trail Loop.

A network of thick roots on the trail.

A tree hollow…

…and just above it, another.

A wooden bridge and staircase…

…which run below this impressive rockface.

The next fork will offer a right-turn to Little Glassy Mountain, but for the Glassy Mountain Outlook, stay straight, finishing up the last .4 miles of Memminger Trail Loop.

The conclusion of Memminger Trail Loop will be clear, exiting into a clearing with three other trails branching from it. Take a rest on the grey bench at the miniature summit before continuing uphill on the left-hand exit, the beginning of Big Glassy Trail.

Rest on the intersection bench and check out the trail map.

Head left for the beginning of Big Glassy Trail.

Big Glassy Trail is a tough hike. The climb to Glassy Mountain Outlook is roughly a mile of uphill terrain and an increase of about 400 feet in elevation. Fortunately, there are regular rest stops along the way in the form of the aforementioned grey benches, but it is an arduous ascent all the same.

However, if you can breathe through it, there are moments of beauty to admire, too. My favorites were a small pond and a bench overlooking it and a series of rock outcroppings topped by pine trees.

A small pond on Memminger Creek.

A grey rest bench overlooking the pond.

Pine trees crown a rocky outcropping.

The rock clearings dot the top of Glassy Mountain.

Near the end of the journey to Glassy Mountain Overlook, the trail mercifully flattens out, making for a pleasant final stroll to the mountain view.

Eventually, the leaf-strewn path will end with a yellow sign warning hikers about slippery rocks. Pay attention to your footing during the last juncture to the outlook: even on a bright, sunny day, water covered parts of the rock. Make your way carefully down the staggered rockface until you reach a brown sign pointing the way out to the view.

The rockface leading down to Glassy Mountain Outlook can be slippery.

Water on the rocks.

There is no railing to help you down to the outlook, so place your feet carefully.

The final sign pointing to Glassy Mountain Overlook.

Walking out to the Glassy Mountain view is breathtaking. The vista is framed by pines and rock, offering a curated frame of the Blue Ridge Mountains to admire on two grey benches.

Glassy Mountain Overlook

Water was on the rocks on the overlook, as well.

Glassy Mountain Overlook

One of two benches available to sit and take in the view.

Glassy Mountain Overlook

Mountain views from Glassy Mountain Overlook

Once you have had your fill of beautiful mountains, head back down the mountain to the four-way intersection. Coming down Big Glassy Trail, continue straight across the intersection to finish out Memminger Trail Loop, which will deposit you close to the Carl Sandburg Home property.

Head straight from Big Glassy Trail back to Memminger Trail Loop.

Memminger Trail Loop features this unmistakable leaning tree.

Memminger Trail Loop deposits hikers onto the Carl Sandburg Home property.

Memminger Trail Loop deposits hikers onto the Carl Sandburg Home property.

While you can decide to continue the loop back to the departure point from the trail detour, I recommend taking the time to walk up to the Carl Sandburg Home before strolling downhill toward the parking lot. Pre-Helene, hikers would be able to cross the pretty white bridge connecting the welcome center to the site property. However, due to its damages, hikers should head right along the lake, eventually turning back across the detour bridge and back to the parking lot.

Carl Sandburg Home exterior.

Carl Sandburg Home front porch.

Bridge closed due to damages.

The path along Front Lake.