30 Mile Hike along the Art Loeb Trail (southbound) – NC, US
The Art Loeb Trail is a 30.1-mile (48.4 km) hiking trail located in Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina.
The northern terminus is at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp in Haywood County, while the trail’s southern terminus is located near the Davidson River Campground, near Brevard, in Transylvania County.
Along the way, the trail traverses several significant peaks, including Black Balsam Knob (6,214 ft), Tennent Mountain (6040 ft) and Pilot Mountain (5095 ft). The trail also passes the base of Cold Mountain, made famous by the novel and film.
National Geographic Adventure listed the trail as one of the thirty best North American hikes. They praised the views offered on the high Appalachian Balds, the challenging climbs, and the trail’s diverse landscape.
Originally part of the Cherokee Nation, the area was heavily logged in the early part of the 20th century.
The Art Loeb Trail was dedicated on November 9, 1969. It was named after an avid hiker and Carolina Mountain Club member, who resided in Brevard. Mr. Loeb often explored and cared for the area.
There is a variety of birds, reptiles and mammals in the area. Deer, rattlesnakes, rabbits, black bears and bobcats may be spotted by the watchful hiker.
While most of the spruce and fir was removed by logging, there are areas where these trees are encountered on the trail. There are significant differences in the landscape from the southern end of the trail compared to the higher elevations.
Video Source: Art Loeb Southbound | 30 Mile Solo Thru Hike from Seagrass to Sassafras on Youtube ⁄ CC BY
