Art Loeb Trail–Big East Fork Trail, 3 sights
13.9 mi · ▲ 3,073 ft · 6 hr 10 min
Art Loeb Trail–Big East Fork Trail, 3 sights is a 13.9-mile out-and-back in Shining Rock Wilderness near Big East Fork, NC. It climbs 3,073 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Art Loeb Trail–Big East Fork Trail, 3 sights
13.9 mi · ▲ 3,073 ft · 6 hr 10 min
Elevation 3,375–5,860 ft
Out & Back · Shining Rock Wilderness
Trailhead: Big East Fork Trail · 35.36462, -82.81682
Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 83°F / low 67° · precip 20% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Big East Fork Trail, heading W.
- 3.4 miTurn right onto Greasy Cove Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miTurn left onto Art Loeb Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Ivestor Gap Trail, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Ivestor Gap Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftReach Big East Fork Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Ivestor Gap Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Greasy Cove Trail, heading NE.
- 2.6 miTurn left onto Big East Fork Trail, heading SE.
- 3.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.5 mi in (~234 min). Leave by 3:42 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Big East Fork Trail Trailhead
- View Cherry Cove (MP 415.7)–Big East Fork Trail, 3 sights 11 mi · ▲ 1,878 ft
- Art Loeb Trail–Big East Fork Trail, 3 sights 13.1 mi · ▲ 2,936 ft
- Lower Falls Viewpoint–Big East Fork Trail, 3 sights 13.3 mi · ▲ 2,340 ft
- Shining Rock–Big East Fork Trail, 4 sights 15.4 mi · ▲ 3,363 ft
- Grassy Cove Top–Shining Rock, 7 sights 15.9 mi · ▲ 5,032 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Big East Fork, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Big East Fork, North Carolina