Ivestor Gap Trail, Art Loeb Trail, and Sam Knob - Pisgah National Forest, NC

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A big day loop on June 23 revisiting many of my favorite mountains so my friend could bag six 6,000-foot peaks. This hike is arguably the 2nd most scenic all-day hike in North Carolina, crossing multiple grassy and rocky heath balds with fantastic views. Beginning at the parking lot for Sam Knob and Black Balsam Knob, we followed the Ivestor Gap Trail towards the Shining Rock Wilderness. The Ivestor Gap Trail is the expressway of this area, taking you all the way to Shining Rock Gap on a flat railroad bed. From Shining Rock Gap we tagged Shining Rock and took a snack break, then began following the Art Loeb Trail south towards the continuous stretch of balds from Flower Gap to Black Balsam Knob. Our first stop was Grassy Cove Top surveying most of our hike for the rest of the day. Then we dropped into Ivestor Gap for a second time. I took more pictures at my favorite wilderness sign with better lighting, then we climbed up to Tennent Mountain and Black Balsam Knob. Both peaks have fantastic views, and also lots of people during the summertime.
Many hikers may want to cut this hike short by dropping down to the parking lot for ~10 mile loop. We continued on the Art Loeb Trail eventually following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail towards Chestnut Bald. While I waited on the Chestnut Bald cliffs admiring the views of Looking Glass Rock and Pilot Mountain, my buddy bushwhacked up to Chestnut Bald, the only bushwhack of this 6-peak loop. We then followed the Little Sam Trail and Flat Laurel Creek Trail to pick up the Sam Knob Trail. As we approached Flat Laurel Creek thunderstorms quickly blew in, with some small hail and 30-40 mph wind gusts. We waited out the storms in some groves around the creek, then quickly summitted Sam Knob. Sam Knob is one of my favorite peaks in the state, and the low-lying clouds after the storm added to the views. Even though I got rained on for what seemed to be the 8th consecutive weekend of hiking, it was a fantastic day loop that rivals any hike in the Southeast.
Hike was 16.9 miles with 2,749 feet elevation gain in 9 hours and 10 minutes.
Hike location
goo.gl/maps/U3...

Опубликовано:

14 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 36

@maxgomez2832 Год назад

It was windy and a little bit of snow leading to Black Balsam Knob, went over to Tennent mountain then back via Investor gap trail. The views we awesome, I used your video s to map out my plan. The Pisgah map was a big help, thanks!

@bigzach322 Год назад

That's great, winter views from up there are the best.

@jboutdoors5181 3 года назад

Great video, thank you! I love this area and am just now starting on the SB6K list, and I think this loop will be a great start.

@bigzach322 3 года назад

It'll knock out 6 fast. I would try to do it when it's dry simply because it's a rocky loop and the slippery rocks will get annoying all day.

@luckyotter623 3 года назад

I live very close to this area, but have never actually done this hike. This time of year is so beautiful, with the bright greens and blues contrasting against the bright white of the quartzite on Shining Rock, the flame azaleas, and the dark green of the spruce fir stands. I've become addicted to your videos, and you explain everything so well!

@bigzach322 3 года назад

Well you should, it's one of the best hikes in the state.

@luckyotter623 2 месяца назад

@@bigzach322 I finally did the Black Balsam to Shining Rock loop yesterday (counterclockwise, saving Ivestor Gap for the return) and have to say this may be in my Top 3 hikes of all time. Definitely worth the effort and distance! I've done Sam Knob and Flat Laurel creek too, but as a different hike. A 10 mile day is about my limit!

@bigzach322 2 месяца назад

@@luckyotter623 Sound great, I miss being within a day's drive

@RobertJones-om9kx 6 лет назад

My Favorite area. THANKS AGAIN

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

Thanks Robert, it's one of my favorite areas too

@possum1500 5 лет назад

Great video! We were up there today 10/20/2019....low humidity, so the views were perfectly clear!!

@bigzach322 5 лет назад

Thanks, you lucked out with the weather

@jmash41 4 года назад

Thank you for your videos of the Shining Rock Wilderness area. In your backpacking in that area, did you experience black bear? If so, can you describe the experience (s)? I'm planning a trip there next month and want to be prepared. Thanks again!

@bigzach322 4 года назад

I have not come across bears there specifically but there is a dense population. Bear canisters are required for camping, and I would follow that because there are lot of novice campers in the area who trash campsites and take zero precautions with food.

@Hikergy16 6 лет назад

You kind of remind me of the 'eastern version' of the 'MyOwnFrontier' RU-vid channel. Not sure if you know who I'm talking about. Great vid man, keep up the stellar content.

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

Nope never heard of that, will have to check it out.

@BryanDeLay 6 лет назад

Zach, My Own Frontier is Joey Coconato, who I backpacked with in Yellowstone during August 2017 and in Cheaha Wilderness in February of this year. Also I car camped with him and three of his friends just outside of Cook City, MT last month. He has a great channel with about 10,000 subscribers. You should check him out.

@footpathjunkies1051 6 лет назад

Thanks Zach...another great episode...the wife and I are planning a 2 nite loop in GSMNP next month...we are not in top shape so need moderate miles 6-8ish daily...any suggestions ???? You have the most knowledge of hiking terrains in NC of anyone I've seen...love all your videos...thanks for sharing..

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

The Big Creek and Cataloochee Valley area have the best loop options and campsites, and are in the quieter section of the park. Some of those loops have a lot of climbing though. I don't know where you live, but the Fontana and Twentymile area has shorter loops and lots of campsites. Opposite side of the park.

@footpathjunkies1051 6 лет назад

Thank You Sir..will check out those options for sure, never been in the Big Creek area ......

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

Big Creek may be tough, a few of the campsites are closed from bear activity. The campsites further out are tough hikes. I just backpacked in northern Cataloochee Valley, what I did was tough and the campsites scarce. But, if you backpack on the south side of Cataloochee the sites are lower elevation and closer to the road. You can hike up to Cataloochee Divide Trail and Hemphill Bald Trail without full packs to get views. You can also consider the other side of Big Creek starting at Cosby and doing the Mt. Cammerer loop, that is roughly 17 miles. The Gregory Bald loop out of Twentymile is also that length, and you can camp really close to the summit. Better look at the reservations now and see if some of these sites are reserved.

@footpathjunkies1051 6 лет назад

@@bigzach322 Wow, the wife and I were just discussing this last night...thanks so much for the new info.....heres what we were discussing....let me know what you think....Day 1...Big Creek parking lot..Baxter creek trail to site 38 (6ish miles).....Day 2 swallow fork trail to Cosby Knob (8miles)...Day 3 up to Cammerer and down AT to Davenport Gap...still throwing around ideas...maybe even a shuckstack loop down lost cove trail...we are not in great shape but not crippled either....thanks for your advice

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

So are you aiming for a 3-day trip? Generally I would not recommend the AT shelters, they are crowded and the bathroom situation is usually gross. But later in the season will be less crowded, and if it's on a weekday you might have it almost to yourself. If you do that loop, you should just finish on Day 3 taking Chestnut Branch Trail down to Big Creek. I imagine you are striving to see some of the best viewpoints and maybe waterfalls and trees, and there aren't many highlights in GSMNP. In the Big Creek/Cataloochee vicinity - Mt. Sterling, Mt. Cammerer, Deer Creek Gap, Hemphill Bald, Purchase Gap, Mouse Creek Falls, Caldwell Fork and Boogerman for trees. Around Fontana only Shuckstack and Gregory Bald have the views. There is a fun alternative in that area, you can shuttle to the Eagle Creek or Hazel Creek trails from Fontana Marina. You can do that to see Rocky Top, which is really far if you start at Fontana Dam. www.fontanavillage.com/Watercraft%20Rental%20Rate%20Sheet%202016-B.pdf

@subproject43 6 лет назад

Nice job, very informative, subscribed. Quick question, the map at the 17:40 mark shows two springs. "Art Loeb Trail spring" and "Art Loeb Trail spring2", are these two reliable, year round water sources? What mile of the hike were these located? Any other water sources along the hike? Thanks.

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

They're both reliable, well at least one of them. Only source of water for that area, they're like 200 feet apart. In general the Art Loeb Trail is devoid of water, the Ivestor Gap Trail is full of springs. Is there a specific location you are interested in?

@subproject43 6 лет назад

Thanks for the reply. We are in the process of planning a 3 day trip somewhere in the area and thought this hike looked awesome. Based on your vid we want to incorporate this loop with another trail to increase the distance. Looking for 25 or so miler. Any suggestions, maybe a longer approach trail to the loop?

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

You can easily do that in this area. It would be helpful if you have a map or can look at a site with a zoomed out view of the trails. If you start at Big East Fork parking the big loop from there is about 25 miles. You can also extend this hike out in both directions to add miles easily, either dropping east or west.

@subproject43 6 лет назад

Thanks!

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

These are the two maps I like for this area www.pisgahmapcompany.com/shop-trail-guides/pisgah-ranger-district www.avenzamaps.com/maps/479024/shining-rock-and-middle-prong-wilderness-areas

@nancypeast 6 лет назад

I have recently stumbled on your channel and love watching your videos! I'm on Haywood Co.'s Search and Rescue Team and the area this video covers is where the lion's share of our searches take place, because of all the user trails that have been worn in through the years. It's always refreshing to see well-equipped hikers who know the topography of the land as well as you do. Happy trails! :-)

@bigzach322 6 лет назад

If I lived out there I would probably volunteer. I think on this hike I gave directions to 3 separate groups who were confused and none of them had maps or phone apps.

@nancypeast 6 лет назад

Without a doubt, you would be a good SAR member!