Ivestor Gap Trail (#101)
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Route map of the Ivestor Gap Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Ivestor Gap Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Shining Rock Gap (Ivestor Gap, Art Loeb, & Old Butt Knob Trails) -- 5,750'
The northern terminus of the Ivestor Gap Trail is here, at Shining Rock Gap. In this shot, the Ivestor Gap trail departs the clearing to the left. As this is designated wilderness there is no sign. To the right the Art Loeb Trail departs north...
Starting off on a beautiful level grade, heading south on the Ivestor Gap Trail from Shining Rock Gap...
Ivestor Gap/Little East Fork Trail Junction -- 5,700'
Within five minutes of leaving Shining Rock Gap the trail passes an unmarked trail junction where the Little East Fork Trail breaks right heading downhill...
Tunneling through the green, heading south on the Ivestor Gap Trail...
One downside to the relative flatness of the Ivestor Gap Trail is that it can get wet frequently. If you hike it after a good rain you should just plan on wet feet...
Things start to open up a bit as you near Ivestor Gap...
Black Balsam Knob (6,214') comes into view directly ahead as well as Sam Knob (6,050'), which is just barely poking its head above the ridge right of center...
The trees thin out as the trail nears Ivestor Gap from the north...
Ivestor Gap Trail @ Ivestor Gap -- 5,700'
Arriving at Ivestor Gap, northbound, on the Ivestor Gap Trail...
Ivestor Gap Trail @ Ivestor Gap -- 5,700'
Ivestor Gap is where the trail leaves Shining Rock Wilderness behind. The green dome of Grassy Cove Top (6,040') rises above the boundary sign...
Ivestor Gap Trail @ Ivestor Gap -- 5,700'
It's always a good day on the trail when you get to pass one of these signs. Encompassing around 16,000 acres, the wilderness includes the entirety of the Shining Rock Ridge to the north of Ivestor Gap as well as much of the landscape surrounding it between the East and West Forks of the Pigeon River...
Ivestor Gap Trail @ Ivestor Gap -- 5,700'
Ivestor Gap is a stunningly beautiful place. Frequently windy, the high green grasses of the wide ridge ripple in the breeze while the massive heath-covered dome of Grassy Cove Top (6,040') towers beyond...
Ivestor Gap Trail @ Ivestor Gap -- 5,700'
Looking northwest from the gap is a nice view of the western portion of the wilderness as well as Birdstand Mountain (~5,300') which marks the end of the ridge in the foreground, just right of center...
Like I said earlier, expect water...things only get wetter moving south of Ivestor Gap...
South of Ivestor Gap the trail gets very wide and rocky as it begins following an old forest road the rest of the way to the Black Balsam Road parking lot...
Normally this section of the Ivestor Gap Trail is swarming with people, so don't expect a wilderness experience if you visit on a sunny day...
Ivestor Gap/Art Loeb Trail South Junction -- 5,720'
Arriving at the Ivestor Gap Trails' junction with the Art Loeb, north of Tennent Mountain...
Ivestor Gap/Fork Mountain Trail Junction -- 5,730'
A simple wooden sign, strangely pointed to only greet northbound hikers, marks the north end of the Fork Mountain Trail just a short distance south from the last photo...
The Ivestor Gap Trail is quite exposed along this last two miles, so shade is appreciated when its available...
Curving west, the trail offers up this rare view back to the north. Grassy Cove Top (6,040') is the green dome to the right while the dark, spruce covered summit of Shining Rock (6,030') lies beyond it to the left...
You really have to pay attention to the weather up here. The open country surrounding you is beautiful, but offers little to no protection should a storm arrive, which they frequently do in the warmer months...
