Good directions to Cold Mountain from Black Balsam

[flair4040]

I am interested in hiking on the Art Loeb trail from Black Balsam up to the peak of Cold Mountain. I understand that there are many unmarked spur trails on the way. I am looking for someone with good directions to keep me on the Art Loeb. Any help is much appreciated.

[Tennessee Viking]

Here is wnchikes.info trailhead description. But its pretty vague.

The 30.1 mile Art Loeb trail traverses the Pisgah Ranger District (http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/index.html) of the Pisgah National Forest. It runs from the Davidson River (http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/davidson.html), near the entrance to the Pisgah National Forest on US 276, across several landmark area peaks around the southern rim of the Davidson River valley. It crosses Pilot Mountain on the northern end of this dividing ridge, before climbing steeply to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Silvermine Bald, where it tops 6000' in elevation.

Next, the trail crosses Black Balsam Knob (click for photos (http://www.hikewnc.info/gallery/bbalsamimg.html)), where there is a plaque commemorating Art Loeb and the Trail. This is the most famous and most popular section of the trail, for good reason. The views and uniqueness of this section of trail are second to none! Finally, it travels across the mountain balds and through the Shining Rock Wilderness (http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/shining.html) past Shining Rock itself, then up Cold Mountain, before descending steeply to end near the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp on the Little East Fork Pigeon River. This trail is a memorial to Art Loeb, an activist from the Carolina Mountain Club, and a man who "deeply loved these mountains." For a map of the trail, use the Davidson River (http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/davidson_maps.html) and Shining Rock Wilderness (http://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/shining_middle_maps.html) maps. The Art Loeb trail uses the same trail as the Mountains to Sea & Mountains to Sea Alternate trails along portions of its length.

I do know you can jump on the main part of the ALT at Graveyard Fields on the Parkway. Just follow the MST westbound above the fields and it will join it.

The northern terminus is at the Daniel Boone Boys Scout Camp outside of Waynesville and immediately climbs up Cold Mountain.

[Tennessee Viking]

Found some directions. The southern ALT terminus is on US64 just north of Brevard. It lies on west side of the road between Sycamore Flats Picnic area & the Davidson River Campground. I can't remember whats there, but if you pass the Pisgah Ranger Station, you gone too far.

Crosses the Parkway near in between 421 & 422, with access/parking using USFS 816. There are a few remote mountain and USFS roads that lead up before the parkway.

From Waynesville to the northern terminus, take 276 east then NC 215. Then state road 1129 to the Boys Scout Camp.

[wilconow]

at Black Balsalm there are some posts for the Art Loeb. Follow the trail North to the next obvious peak (Tennent), then down to Ivestor Gap. Then you enter the Wilderness area where there are no signs or blazes. The only area where there's an intersection of trails is around Shining Rock, and it isn't initially clear which trail is which.

The way I made sure I was on the right trail is process of elimination. The other trails either ended real quickly, or were along a creek. I happen to pick the right one and knew I was ok because it went on for a while and I didn't encounter those other things. Also I checked my compass to ensure I was going the right direction

When you get past the intersection, the trail is very obvious. You go through the Narrows, which is a pretty area, and aptly named. Then when you get to Deep Gap (nice campsite), the Art goes down the ridge on your left, but Cold Mountain is straight ahead. With a map, it's very obvious. You can leave your pack at the gap and go up Cold Mountain, since you have to come back down anyway

Don't worry about it, you need minimal map+compass skills, just pay attention at Shining Rock. Get the Trails Illustrated map.

There are photos in my gallery of this hike - I did it this past May

[Repeat]

Good morning,

As you come into the gap just below Shinning Rock on the Art Loeb trail. Continue to the left, on the old railroad bed trail back towards Investor Gap, for about 10 yards and you will notice a trail to the right. This is the Art Loeb and it will go under the left (west) face of Shinning Rock and north to Cold Mtn. It is a fairly wide and well worn trail at the start.

[ed bell]

Good morning,

As you come into the gap just below Shinning Rock on the Art Loeb trail. Continue to the left, on the old railroad bed trail back towards Investor Gap, for about 10 yards and you will notice a trail to the right. This is the Art Loeb and it will go under the left (west) face of Shinning Rock and north to Cold Mtn. It is a fairly wide and well worn trail at the start.The area Repeat is describing is by far the most confusing between Black Balsam and Cold Mountain. Shining Rock Gap has at least 5 trails that intersect with the Art Loeb within a half mile or so of the Gap so it is easy to get a little confused. Add the 2 spur trails to the top of Flower Knob and you can see why this area can cause folks to get turned around. Repeat's instructions are as helpful as possible without showing a close up of the map. One of the most common mistakes is to continue straight through Shining Rock Gap without taking the quick "left - right" Repeat talks about. That takes you to the summit of Shining Rock. While I totally recommend checking that out, that is the mistake I made most often until I got wise.

[humunuku]

I believe some on recently (in the last year) painted a white blaze on a rock on the ground at this left hand turn off...it may be a bit worn now (and overgrown) so you may miss it. If you enter shining rock gap, going toward cold mtn, the "left" is at about 10-11 o'clock.

[OldStormcrow]

Just for your info, water is usually fairly scarce on Cold Mountain. At the Low Gap campsite you can bushwhack about 100 yards downhill to the right and find a small creek.

[The Solemates]

or for a more fun approach, head downhille from shining rock through a huge rock garden, and eventually you will run into the trail to cold mountain. that's what we always did, and its most fun with about 4-6 inches of snow covering everything :)

[ed bell]

Just for your info, water is usually fairly scarce on Cold Mountain. At the Low Gap campsite you can bushwhack about 100 yards downhill to the right and find a small creek.Maybe something has changed, but the spring that is about 1/4 mile before the saddle of Cold Mountain has always been a reliable source in my experiences. I haven't been up there in over a year but I have been up there in every season multiple times and the spring has always been steady. Having said that, it's an awful long way back down to the source below Deep Gap if she's dry. I would suggest planning for the worst if you can't afford to turn back for water. The way this year has been, it would be nice to hear a recent report.