Laurel Fork Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 5 sights
16 mi · ▲ 4,118 ft · 7 hr 24 min
Laurel Fork Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 5 sights is a 16-mile out-and-back near Laurel Falls, NC. The route reaches Laurel Fork Falls at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 4,118 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Laurel Fork Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 5 sights
16 mi · ▲ 4,118 ft · 7 hr 24 min
Elevation 2,554–4,942 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Davidson River Road · 35.28319, -82.81701
Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 87°F / low 69° · precip 18% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Lower Cove Creek, heading NW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Cove Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Cove Creek - Daniel Connector, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Lanning Ridge Road, heading W.
- 1.2 miSharp right onto Daniel Ridge Loop, heading SE.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Farlow Gap Trail, heading NW.
- 3.1 miTurn left onto Art Loeb Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Deep Gap Road, heading W.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear left onto Deep Gap Road, heading S.
- 0.9 miReach Laurel Fork Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Deep Gap Road, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Farlow Gap Trail, heading N.
- 3.1 miContinue straight onto Daniel Ridge Loop, heading N.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Lanning Ridge Road, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Cove Creek - Daniel Connector, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Cove Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Lower Cove Creek, heading NE.
- 0.3 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 6.8 mi in (~251 min). Leave by 3:25 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Davidson River Road Trailhead
- Toms Spring Falls–Daniel Ridge Loop, 3 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 578 ft
- Caney Bottom Trail & Lower Cove Creek 3.8 mi · ▲ 488 ft
- Bennett Knob Road–Caney Bottom Trail, 5 sights 6.9 mi · ▲ 755 ft
- Daniel Ridge Loop–Lanning Ridge Road, 3 sights 7.3 mi · ▲ 1,191 ft
- Cove Creek Trail–Lower Cove Creek, 3 sights 7.7 mi · ▲ 984 ft
- Caney Bottom Trail–Cove Creek Trail Loop, 4 sights 8 mi · ▲ 1,209 ft
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Hikes near Laurel Falls, North Carolina