Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail

Haywood County, North Carolina

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Details

Distance

1.56 miles

Elevation Gain

305 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Alyssa Gregory

Pretty easy hike on the treeless balds gives beautiful views of surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains

The parking area for Black Balsam Knob is at mile marker 420.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's free to hike here.

Take the Art Loeb Trail a half mile until you reach the knob. Along the way you will be walking almost entirely on the bald which is a very pleasant experience. You feel like you're dancing through meadows and you can see the mountains all around you. There are a couple of large rock steps that I clumsily fell on and scraped my knees but the trail is pretty easy.

Make sure to bring sunscreen since you're not covered by trees most of the time. There's plenty of good flat areas to have a picnic near the top.

I've marked this as spring/summer/fall, but it could probably be done in winter as long as you check weather conditions.

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Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail Reviews

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