Laurel Fork Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 6 sights
15.9 mi · ▲ 3,857 ft · 7 hr 14 min
Laurel Fork Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 6 sights is a 15.9-mile out-and-back near Balsam Grove, NC. The route reaches Laurel Fork Falls. It climbs 3,857 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 77/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Laurel Fork Falls–Art Loeb Trail, 6 sights
15.9 mi · ▲ 3,857 ft · 7 hr 14 min
Elevation 2,638–4,942 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Lanning Ridge Road · 35.28484, -82.82867
Weather Sep 5: 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 Lanning Ridge Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Daniel Ridge Loop, heading W.
- 1.8 miContinue straight onto Farlow Gap Trail, heading N.
- 3.1 miTurn left onto Art Loeb Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Deep Gap Road, heading S.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Art Loeb Trail, heading S.
- 300 ftBear left onto Deep Gap Road, heading S.
- 0.9 miPass Laurel Fork Falls.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Middle Pilot Mountain Road, heading N.
- 1.1 miReach Laurel Fork Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Pilot Mountain Road, heading SE.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading N.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Deep Gap Road, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Art Loeb Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Farlow Gap Trail, heading NW.
- 3.1 miContinue straight onto Daniel Ridge Loop, heading NE.
- 1.8 miBear right onto Lanning Ridge Road, heading E.
- 450 ftArrive 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 5.6 mi in (~216 min). Leave by 4:00 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:37 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Lanning Ridge Road Trailhead
- Toms Spring Falls & Daniel Ridge Loop 1.5 mi · ▲ 264 ft
- Lanning Ridge Road 2.3 mi · ▲ 434 ft
- Lanning Ridge Road 2.8 mi · ▲ 490 ft
- Lower Cove Creek via Lanning Ridge Road 3 mi · ▲ 515 ft
- Daniel Ridge Loop Loop 4.7 mi · ▲ 803 ft
- Lanning Ridge Road 5.2 mi · ▲ 656 ft
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Hikes near Balsam Grove, North Carolina