Shining Rock Loop via Ivestor Gap Trail and Art Loeb Trail
9.6 mi
Distance
5 hrs 13 min
Time
terrain
492 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult loop trail to Shining Rock in Shining Rock Wilderness.
This trail goes by Flower Knob, Grassy Cove Top, Tennent Mountain, and Black Balsam Knob.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
I did this hike yesterday solo. It was definitely worth the effort and distance. I actually hiked a half mile more, for a total of 10 miles, because I parked on Black Balsam Road and had to road walk back to my car. I definitely recommend hiking this counterclockwise, saving the much easier Ivestor Gap trail for your return. This is one of my top 3 hikes - views are almost constant, and while the views along Ivestor Gap aren't quite as spectacular as the first 3 miles on Art Loeb, they are still impressive, and in August (when I went), there are lots of blueberries and blackberries to snack on! After over 4 miles of up and down, rolling hiking on Art Loeb (no super steep ascents, but the descent down the backside of Tennent is quite steep and rocky, though with spectacular views to the south and east), you will finally reach the white quartz boulders (you have to turn onto the Old Butt Knob trail, which will be on the right), and it is truly surreal to see them up against the dark green of the evergreen forest around them. There are lots of side trails at the various gaps, and they aren't always marked, so bringing a map or GPS is definitely a must if you don't know this area.
A word of caution - if you go in summer, the Art Loeb is a bit overgrown and even bushwhacky in spots, especially once you're past the wilderness sign, so wear long pants- or wait until a different season. There are also a couple of spots where the trail seems to disappear. The Ivestor Gap trail is well maintained and always easy to follow, but is also very wet, with numerous seeps that cross over it.
All in all, I can't recommend this hike enough. There's a little bit of everything here, and the views are probably the most spectacular I've seen outside of the Roan Highlands.
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Public Tracks
Shining Rock Gap Hike
Begin at the Black Balsam Knob parking lot. Proceed to summit Black Balsam Knob, Tennet Mountain via the Art Loeb Trail. Continue past Flower Gap to Shining Rock Gap and set up camp. Return on the Ivestor Gap Trail.
101 Ivestor Gap
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101 Ivestor Gap
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