Black Balsam Knob Hike Route Map

After a 5-year hiatus, it was fitting to mark my return to a North Carolina summit at Black Balsam Knob. The hike up to the bare summit of Black Balsam Knob has always been one of my personal favorites and is a classic in the western North Carolina mountains. Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway midway between Brevard and Waynesville, the peak sits amidst the most expansive open mountaintop terrain aside from the Roan Highlands. For a full 4-miles one can hike along the ridge with not a single tree to impede upon the views. It's simply an awe-inspiring place.

The hike to Black Balsam is a nice introductory hike to this area. Short but sweet, its only about a mile from the trailhead to the summit and one is only required to climb about 400 vertical feet of its total 6,214. The first bit of the hike winds through a thick stand of red spruce which, from a distance, gives the lower slopes of the mountain a dark complexion and thus its name but soon you break out into the open for the rest of the walk to the top. Come for a walk with me and you'll see why I am so thoroughly in love with Black Balsam...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates:35.320590, -82.876183

Route Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: EASY (Petzoldt Rating: 1.68 )

Hike Length: 1.0 miles Hike Duration: 1:00

Trailhead Temp: 25'F Trail Traffic: 10-25 people

Min. Elevation: 5,900' Max. Elevation: 6,214'

Total Vertical Gain: 314' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 314'

Trails Used (Blaze Color): Art Loeb (white)

12-18-2011

Black Balsam Knob (1.0 miles; d=1.68)

Black Balsam Knob Hike Route Map
The approximate track of our quick hike up Black Balsam Knob as depicted a la Google Earth...
Black Balsam Knob Hike Route Map
The approximate track of our quick hike up Black Balsam Knob...
Black Balsam Road -- 5,600'
Immediately after turning off the Blue Ridge Parkway onto the access road the bare summit of Black Balsam appears front-and-center...
Black Balsam Road -- 5,800'
Even if you can't make the hike to the top, the drive up the access road is worth a short detour. From just below the parking area you get this sweeping view to the south east over the high valley known as Graveyard Fields...
Black Balsam Road - Art Loeb Trailhead -- 5,900'
The rather non-descript trailhead. The trail that leads up and over Black Balsam is the regionally famous Art Loeb Trail...
Art Loeb Trail -- 5,900'
A thick cloak of spruce trees covers the lower reaches of Black Balsam's summit ridge, providing a dark cloak on the side of the mountain that likely provided it with its name...
Art Loeb Trail -- 5,930'
Red Spruce...
Art Loeb Trail -- 5,960'
After only 5-10 minutes of hiking the Art Loeb breaks free of the trees...
Art Loeb Trail -- 5,980'
A taste of things to come...at this point you've only been hiking about 10 minutes and you're already rewarded with views like this!
Art Loeb Trail -- 5,990'
After your first taste of the scenery you'll experience on this hike the trail turns towards the middle of the ridge to begin the climb...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,000'
One has to marvel at the persistence of this old spruce, growing far above the protection of its brethren below...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,050'
Until you top the first outcrop the views you get are restricted to the southeast over Graveyard Fields...not that I'm complaining...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,100'
After the first steep-ish climb the trail makes its way past a small rock outcrop which offers an inviting place to take a break...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,100'
Looking ahead to what you might call a false summit though you're not likely to be fooled into thinking that this is actually the top...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,100'
Tracking our progress...the trailhead is hidden in the spruce grove to the right...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,100'
The water-carved designs in the rocks always distract me a bit...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,140'
Topping the first major rise, one finally gets a look at Black Balsam itself...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,140'
High on the ridge now, the view to the west opens up. The peak in the center foreground is Sam Knob (6,050') while the rest of the massive Great Balsam Range, with elevations rising above 6,400', looms beyond...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,130'
At this point, about halfway, you've already done the lions share of the climb...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,120'
The one caveat of popularity is seen here in the severely eroded path. With a severely limited maintenance budget the Forest Service is limited in what it can do to curb issues like this so PLEASE help out by not trying to bypass places like this and stick to the trail which will limit the damage done...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,100'
Not a legal campsite but you have to respect their choice of spots...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,100'
The sweeping panorama from atop the ridge. The summit of Black Balsam rises on the right, less than half a mile distant...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,120'
The final push...
Art Loeb Trail -- 6,150'
One of the worst sections of trail. You can see where people are trying to bypass this section to each side, PLEASE DON"T DO THIS it only allows the trail to erode and widen further...