| Art Loeb and Ivestor Gap Trails - Shining Rock Wilderness |
The Art Loeb and Ivestor Gap trails are both located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, just south of Brevard at about milepost 420. You will need to turn right onto a small access road called FR 816, and park at either the 1st parking area for access to the Art Loeb trail, or at the end of the road for the Ivestor Gap trail. I'll start by saying that if you plan to hike these trails as a loop for a day hike, you will not see all of the trails. Both of these trails lead deep into the Shining Rock Wilderness, but when combined into a 6 mile loop, the 1st 3 miles of each of these trails make a great day hike. |
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This area is very popular for the day visitors as well as the weekend backpackers. Both times we have visited here, the parking areas have been overflowing with cars. If we had to choose a single dissapointment with hiking here, it would definately be the crowds of people, and especially those people that you
can hear from 1/2 mile away talking loud enough for the whole world to hear.
Once you begin to climb up and over Black Balsam and Tennent Mountains, you will quickly forget all of the other people there and enjoy just how beautiful this area is. There are very few trees along the beginning of the Art Loeb trail, and the views can only be described as spectacular. |
| The Art Loeb trail is quite different than the Ivestor Gap trail. 1st of all, the Art Loeb trail is a narrow, single wide trail that crosses over the tops of the mountains, where as the Ivestor Gap trail is an old roadbed that skirts the edge of the mountains. Since the trail is an old road bed, it is
obviously more flat and easier to hike.
Another significant differance is that the Ivestor Gap trail is open to mountain bikers, at least as far as the entrance to the Shining Rock Winderness. So be prepared to allow bikes to pass if you come across mountain bikers. |
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Over all this short loop is a good hike. The main attraction here is obviously the views that Black Balsam and Tennent Mountains offer. These mountains are both high in elevation, but the climb to reach the tops is not too strenuous. Tennent Mountain crests at about 6050', and you will feel that elevation in
your breathing if you are not used to it.
If you wish to plan a backpacking trip deeper into the Shining Rock Wilderness, this might be a good place to consider starting your hike. To see our pictures, Click Here |