Art Loeb Trail

Overview

The 30.1 mile Art Loeb Trail is one of the longer and more difficult trails in the state, and it's also one of the more popular. This trail is a memorial to Art Loeb, an activist from the Carolina Mountain Club, and a man who "deeply loved these mountains." It's a designated National Recreation Trail (NRT), promoted as one of the highest-caliber trails for recreation access to this section of the National Forest.

Traveling mainly along peaks and ridges rather than in the valleys, the trail offers many views along the way to its lofty high points. It skirts along the southwestern rim of the Davidson River valley, then climbs up past the Blue Ridge Parkway and skips across some of the highest peaks in the Black Balsam area before descending Cold Mountain to the Daniel Boone Scout Camp. It takes the hiker to some of the finest scenery to be found in Pisgah, and you'll view or cross many of the landmark mountains in the region.

Many folks use this trail for an extended backpacking trip (at least 2-3 days) and plenty of campsites along the trail will facilitate that kind of trip. Others use shorter sections of the trail for day hikes, or use connecting trails to form loops. However you find yourself on the trail, it's one you're sure to enjoy.

The Art Loeb trail uses the same path as the Mountains to Sea trail along portions of its length.

---

Through-Hikes

Access Considerations

There are no permit requirements or other red tape for accessing the trail, but there are some things to keep in mind for day and overnight hikes.

Trailhead Parking Spaces

The main trailheads at the Davidson River and Daniel Boone ends have parking, but space is limited. For overnight hikes, consider a shuttle if that's an option for you rather than leaving a vehicle at the trailhead. It will be safer for your vehicle, leave spaces for day hikers, and a shuttle will be required anyway if you're hiking the trail one-way.

Parking is very tight at the other two direct access points, FS 475 crossing at Gloucester Gap and FS 816, Black Balsam Road. Some parking is also available at other trailheads for trails that connect to the Art Loeb.

Camping on the Art Loeb

Through-hikes of the Art Loeb trail are generally spread over several days requiring overnight camping. Several well-used campsites lie along the trail; many other lesser-used ones also exist along the Art Loeb and adjoining trails. There are no reservations required or accepted at these sites; they are available on a first-come basis. There are (sketchy) old shelters near Butter Gap and Deep Gap with space to pitch a tent nearby. I'd opt to pitch a tent or hang a hammock rather than attempting to use a shelter.

Practice Leave No Trace when camping. Standard Pisgah National Forest dispersed camping regulations and guidelines apply.

---

Shorter Hikes

While through-hikes of the Art Loeb trail are popular, out-and-back hikes on short segments of the trail remain the way most people experience it. And many other trails also connect to the Art Loeb, making loops that use portions of it another option for day hikes. Here are some suggested day hikes using the Art Loeb trail that highlight some of its best features and destinations.

Out-and-Back Options

• To Pilot Mountain from Gloucester Gap on Section 2
• From Black Balsam Road to Silvermine Bald on Section 2, opposite the Black Balsam Knob hike (no less scenic but perhaps with more solitude)
• From Black Balsam Road to Black Balsam Knob on Section 3, by far one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Southern Appalachians, let alone the Art Loeb Trail
• To Cold Mountain and back from the trail's northern terminus, Section 4 - a valid route to "summit" Cold Mountain

Loop Options

• Connect with Butter Gap and/or Cat Gap trails in the Davidson River area on Section 1
• Connect with Flat Laurel Creek and Little Sam trails near Silvermine Bald on Section 2 (highly recommended!)
• Continuing past Black Balsam Knob to Shining Rock on Section 3, with a return on the Ivestor Gap trail for some variation
• Connecting with Graveyard Ridge and/or Ivestor Gap near Black Balsam.

These are just a few of the possible loop hikes that could be put together using this trail.

---

Sections

Since the Art Loeb is such a long trail, it is divided up into 4 sections by the Forest Service, which we use on this site as well.

Davidson River to Gloucester Gap

Art Loeb Section 1 Trail

• Starting at the Davidson River Campground, the trail ascends Shut-in Ridge (not to be confused with the Shut-in Ridge near the French Broad River further north, where the long Shut-in Trail begins). It travels through Cat Gap, around the south side...
• 12.3mi, Level, Few Obstacles

Starting at the Davidson River near the Davidson River Campground, near Brevard, NC, Section 1 of the trail climbs Shut-In Ridge and travels generally west-southwest, where it takes you up and down knobs, along ridges, and down into gaps several gaps. It curves around Cedar Rock Mountain before crossing through Gloucester Gap to begin Section 2.

---

Gloucester Gap to Black Balsam Knob

Art Loeb Section 2 Trail

• Starting in Gloucester Gap, this section of the Art Loeb trail winds its way up the ridge extending east from Pilot Mountain before crossing over the summit. It dips down into Deep Gap and Farlow Gap before resuming its climb, up Shuck Ridge, where...
• 7.2mi, ,

From Gloucester Gap, the trail swings west-northwest and ascends Pilot Mountain, where it turns north toward the main Pisgah Ledge, the backbone of the mountains in this region. It ascends to an elevation over 6000 ft, at a point above the Blue Ridge Parkway at Silvermine Bald - one of the more remote locations on the trail - before taking a level course through cool coniferous forests to reach Black Balsam Road (FS 816).

---

Black Balsam Knob and North

Section 3 begins across the road and parking area by climbing to Black Balsam Knob itself (here is a photo gallery), where you're sure to find crowds. On Black Balsam Knob, the trail's high point, is a plaque commemorating Art Loeb and his eponymous trail. This is the most famous and most popular section of the trail, for good reason. The views and uniqueness of this section of trail are unsurpassed in the region. From there, it travels across several more mountain balds and through the Shining Rock Wilderness past Shining Rock itself, to end at Deep Gap. A spur trail leads to the summit of Cold Mountain. Section 4 of the trail is the descent to the end near the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp on the Little East Fork Pigeon River. This section is often used by itself, in combination with the Cold Mountain spur, as a way to "summit" that peak.

---

Map

See below for a map of just the Art Loeb Trail. To see all the other connecting trails, see the Davidson River and Shining Rock Wilderness maps.