The Black Balsam Knob Area

Overview

Note September 2020: Visiting Black Balsam is not advised at this time due to over-use especially on weekends Spring thru Fall. This has resulted in unsanitary conditions and resource damage, and an inability to take proper precautions during the pandemic.

The Black Balsam area includes some of the most spectacular mountain balds in the Southern Appalachians, including Black Balsam Knob, Sam Knob, and Tennent Mountain. These treeless mountaintops draw people from afar due to their sweeping views and alpine appearance.

Goldenrod and Mountain Ash on Black Balsam
Goldenrod and Mountain Ash on Black Balsam
The Flat Laurel Creek trail winds through the valley below the balds.
The Flat Laurel Creek trail winds through the valley below the balds.

In addition to these balds, trails in the Black Balsam area lead down into the Flat Laurel Creek valley with its dark forests, streamside meadows, and cascading waterfalls.

And although many of this area's points of interest are just outside of its boundary, Black Balsam is also a popular gateway to the Shining Rock Wilderness Area to the north. Many people choose to start their journey into the wilderness from here.

Hiking Trails

Hike to Black Balsam Knob

The hike to the summit of 6214 ft Black Balsam Knob is via the Art Loeb trail, 0.7 mi from the Blue Ridge Parkway on Black Balsam Road (FS 816). There is a sizable parking area for the trail along the road, but the hike is so popular that the parking often overflows on weekend and summer days. Arrive early for the best chance at finding a parking spot, and to be off the mountain by the time the inevitable summer thunderstorms form over the peak. You will not be alone on this hike.

Take the Art Loeb trail to the north (right side as you drive in) to reach Black Balsam Knob. It's a walk of about 1/2 mile which gains a total of about 425 ft in elevation. It passes through a spruce forest near the beginning, then over a lower summit first, and through the open, grassy and rocky mountain meadows that makes this area famous. This short hike is highly recommended!

You can continue along the Art Loeb trail after the summit of Black Balsam Knob to reach the summit of Tennent Mountain, which is another of the prominent open bald peaks that make the area so well loved.

Looking Down Ivestor Ridge from Tennent Mountain
Looking Down Ivestor Ridge from Tennent Mountain

An alternate route to the summit is via the Art Loeb Spur trail from the parking area at the end of Black Balsam Road. It's a bit steeper and climbs more overall, but it's also a nice hike and useful if the upper parking area is full. Turn left at the top to reach the summit of Black Balsam Knob.

Hike to Sam Knob

An alternative to Black Balsam Knob is the nearby summit of Sam Knob, a bit longer hike but with more varied scenery. The quickest way to Sam Knob is from the parking area at the end of Black Balsam Road, 1.3 mi from the Blue Ridge Parkway turn-off. That's the Sam Knob Hike and one of the best in the region - better than Black Balsam, in our opinion!

You can also lengthen the hike to Sam Knob and make it a partial loop with the Flat Laurel Creek Hike, for a total of about 3.7 miles of hiking.

Sam Knob rises above the meadows near Flat Laurel Creek in autumn.
Sam Knob rises above the meadows near Flat Laurel Creek in autumn.

Hike to Shining Rock

From the end-of-the-road parking area, the Ivestor Gap trail skirts Black Balsam Knob and makes the fastest way to reach the Shining Rock Wilderness boundary and Shining Rock itself, after a mostly level hike of just under 5 miles one-way. You can also take the Art Loeb trail across Black Balsam Knob for a more scenic route (but with more ups-and-downs). Combine them for a great loop hike.

Aerial tour of the Black Balsam area.

Hike to Flat Laurel Creek, the Waterfalls, and Loop Options

Goldenrod grow in the meadows below Black Balsam Knob.
Goldenrod grow in the meadows below Black Balsam Knob.

The trail network makes for a good variety of loops that go to the various points of interest, almost any of which could be considered one of the best hikes in the region. Here are some additional suggestions. See a map when evaluating these to plan your route:

  • To Shining Rock: Art Loeb Parking → Art Loeb Tr. over Black Balsam & Tennent Mtn. → Ivestor Gap Tr. → Black Balsam Rd.
  • Around the Balds: Art Loeb Parking → Mountains to Sea Trail → Graveyard Ridge Tr. to Ivestor Gap → Return via Art Loeb Tr. and Black Balsam Mtn. (more difficult) or Ivestor Gap Tr. (easier)
  • Flat Laurel Creek: Ivestor Gap Parking → Sam Knob Summit Tr. → Sam Knob Tr. → Flat Laurel Creek Tr.
  • Silvermine Bald: Ivestor Gap Parking → Flat Laurel Creek Tr. → Little Sam Tr. → Mountains to Sea Tr. → Black Balsam Rd. (or Art Loeb Tr. over Black Balsam's summit) (optional out-and-back to Devil's Courthouse is possible too; see map)

This is just an overview of trails available in the Black Balsam Knob area. For details on each individual trail, see the Black Balsam Knob trails page. Or, you can get detailed information on the best hikes in the Black Balsam Knob area (which use more than one trail).

Map

Here's a map of the Black Balsam area so you can see how everything fits together. For more maps, including printed publications, see our Black Balsam maps page.

Map Information

Download GPS Data

Click on a route, trail, or point on the map and select the GPS Data tab to download its data.

Data Formats

KML (Google Earth)

KML is the main file type used by Google Earth. If you have Google Earth installed, clicking the KML link should open the trail or point directly in Google Earth for viewing. This is the native file format used by Google Earth, but many other map applications can use and understand KML as well, so if you're not sure which one to download, KML is a good bet.

GPX

The GPX format stands for GPS Exchange - a free, open, XML format for exchanging GPS and map data. GPX is compatible with Google Earth, many other mapping programs, and most GPS devices (such as Garmin). Load the file directly into your GPS to help find your way on your next trip!

GeoJSON

GeoJSON is a newer, lightweight data exchange format which can be used to quickly share map data and may have a smaller size than KML or GPX. Many professional mapping and GIS applications support the GeoJSON format.

About the Map

Copyright

Base Layers

Base layers provided by OpenStreetMap, the US Geological Survey, the US Forest Service, and NC OneMap. Base layer images are subject to the respective copyright policies of their owners. Base layers may not be available at all times due to system maintenance or outages.

WNCOutdoors Base Layer

The WNCOutdoors Base layer is provided by WNCOutdoors.info. It is licensed by Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.

Trail and Marker Overlays

Trail layers and downloadable data are all original works created by WNCOutdoors with guidance from a variety of sources, including ensembles of our own GPS tracks, user contributed GPS tracks, official maps and GIS data from government agencies, and field observations. WNCOutdoors data is made freely available under the Open Database License - you are free to copy and use it for any purpose under the terms of that license (summary).

Tips

  • Hover over a trail to see it highlighted. Helps to see start and end points for an individual trail.
  • Scroll and zoom the map before printing, and that view will persist into the printed image.
  • Click a trail for more details and to download it individually.

Places to Stay

Backcountry Camping

Dispersed camping is allowed anywhere on National Forest property accessible from the Black Balsam area, except within 500' of a road or in a designated closed area.

Bear canisters are required for food storage in the Black Balsam and Shining Rock areas. All bear canisters must be commercially made; constructed of solid, non-pliable material manufactured for the specific purpose of resisting entry by bears.

Excellent campsites can be found (not made!) on top of the balds (but beware of harsh weather), along the Art Loeb/Mountains to Sea Trail South of Black Balsam Road, along the Flat Laurel Creek trail (where you will generally have access to water), and toward Sam Knob on the various trails (but not in the mowed wildlife meadow). Please avoid any and all trampling of the vegetation, leaving of trash, enlargement of campfire rings, or cutting of standing wood in this area! Remember, campfires are not allowed within the Shining Rock Wilderness boundaries - bring a camp stove.

There are no developed campgrounds in this area. The closest would be the Mount Pisgah Campground which is located South on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Davidson River Campground which is located South on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then East on US 276, or the small Sunburst campground which is located North on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then West on NC 215.

View across Tennent Mountain toward Shining Rock from Black Balsam Knob.
View across Tennent Mountain toward Shining Rock from Black Balsam Knob.

Lodging

Lodging is available in the nearby towns of Brevard, Waynesville, or Asheville, all within about one hour's drive to the Black Balsam area.

Directions

This trailhead area is accessed via Black Balsam Road (FS 816), off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 420.2. There are two main parking areas along Black Balsam Road: one halfway to the end, at the gap where the Art Loeb and Mountains to Sea trails cross. The other is at the end of FS 816 about 0.5 mile past the gap, where about half a dozen more trails start.

From Asheville

Take the Blue Ridge Parkway South past Mount Pisgah, US Hwy. 276, and Graveyard Fields. Just past milepost 420, look for the road to Black Balsam (FS 816) on the right. It's about 0.8 miles on this (semi) paved road to the first parking area at the gap (Art Loeb/Mountains to Sea Trail crossing), and another 1/2 mile to the parking area at the end of the road (the Ivestor Gap trailhead).