Water sources on Art Loeb Trail

[Phreak]

Does anyone know how the water sources are on the AL trail? I'm headed up to do an out-and-back this Tuesday - Thursday, and not sure what the water situation looks like.

Thanks!
B.

[The Solemates]

cant speak of the water right now in this season, but i have done the art loeb before and water was not an issue...plenty to go around.

[Thumper 2006]

I have hiked the Art Loeb 3 times. The way you hike it depends on the water situation. If you hike from davidson river to daniel boone water is an issue until you get to about a mile and a half before the first shelter. There is a spring at the shelter and it is very reliable, piped the whole nine yards. I would get it is a six mile hike to the first shelter. If you camp here get water before you leave in the morning. It is not really an issue until you start to climb to silvermine bald which you will cross the parkway to the best part of the trail this next section I would argue is probably the most beautiful ridgeline in the southern appalachians other than the humps out of Erwin TN. Here is where water becomes tricky but there is a secret. Look at your map and you will notice you are now on shining rock ridge. Ivestor gap trail runs parallel to the AL all the way to the scout camp. If you decide to camp on the bald in any part and find that you are low on water try and camp close to where the AL and Ivest gap get close to each other. Ivestor gap has plenty of springs on it. Walk up or down it and you should find water. You will eventually pass shining rock which is this huge piece of quartz so you cant miss it. After you pass it, maybe .3 to .5 on the right is another small spring which can be stubborn but it is there, you cant miss it because you will see a trail to it, it is well traveled. After this if you find you are again low on water, look at the map and you should be getting close to where a spur trail goes to the summit of Cold Mtn. take that and about .2 to .3 there is another piped spring which is the sh**. Since you have made it this far up the spur trail you should go ahead and go the summit if you have the time. Lastly, the hike down to daniel boone has some small streams that cross the trail here and there. Good luck and enjoy its gonna be cold at night. If you hike it the other way get water down at the scout camp there is a stream that flows through the camp near the parking lot.