Black Balsam Knob–Black Balsam Summit Viewpoint Loop, 6 sights is a 5.6-mile loop in Shining Rock Wilderness near Big East Fork, NC. The route passes Black Balsam Summit Viewpoint and Black Balsam Knob. It climbs 1,018 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi5,387 – 6,211 ft · steepest grade: 23%6.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Art Loeb & Black Balsam Knob Trailhead 35.32079, -82.87608
Nearest town Big East Fork, NC
Directions
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Black Balsam Knob–Black Balsam Summit Viewpoint Loop, 6 sights
5.6 mi · ▲ 1,018 ft · 2 hr 23 min
Elevation 5,389–6,211 ft
Loop · Shining Rock Wilderness
Trailhead: Art Loeb & Black Balsam Knob Trailhead · 35.32079, -82.87608
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 71°F / low 58° · precip 20% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
- Start on Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Art Loeb Spur Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Black Balsam Summit Trail, heading NE.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Black Balsam Summit Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Black Balsam Knob.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right onto Black Balsam Summit Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Black Balsam Summit Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Black Balsam Summit Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading N.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Ivestor Gap Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Graveyard Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 1.9 miSharp right onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 1.4 miThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
96% dirt4% unspecified
Weather
OvercastTemperature 71°F58°
Precip20%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity81%
Rained 0.1″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
75°55°
Sunrise 7:07 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat
74°60°
Sun
72°55°
57%
Mon
60°54°
36%
Tue
66°49°
Wed
73°50°
Thu
77°54°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 7:20 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:20 PM — 2 min before dark.
More from Art Loeb & Black Balsam Knob Trailhead Trailhead
- Mountains-to-Sea Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 821 ft
- Art Loeb Spur Trail–Art Loeb Trail, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 992 ft
- Devils Courthouse–Silvermine Bald, 3 summits 4.9 mi · ▲ 630 ft
- Graveyard Fields Loop Trail & Graveyard Ridge Trail via Mountains-to-Sea Trail 7.8 mi · ▲ 1,417 ft
- Cold Mountain–Grassy Cove Top, 7 sights 15.7 mi · ▲ 3,829 ft
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