Twelve O'clock Knob, Mountain summit in Roanoke County, Virginia, US
Twelve O'clock Knob is a mountain summit in the Blue Ridge Mountains that marks the southwestern boundary of the Roanoke Valley. Rising to 814 meters, it offers views across the surrounding ridges and valleys of the region.
The name comes from enslaved people who observed the sun positioned directly above the summit at noon. This astronomical feature gave the mountain its distinctive name.
The Tour DuPont cycling competition incorporated the mountain's steep and winding road into its time trial course during the 1995 and 1996 racing seasons.
A road leads to the summit making it accessible by vehicle. The best time to visit is between late spring and early fall when weather conditions are most favorable.
The mountain was featured in the Tour DuPont cycling race during the 1990s, with its steep winding road used as a time trial course. This challenging stretch drew professional cyclists to test their climbing abilities.
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