"High Road to Wilderness"

GPS Coordinates:  35.364037, -82.863802 (Shining Rock Gap Trail Junction)

GPS Coordinates:  35.325956, -82.881678 (Ivestor Gap/Black Balsam Road Trailhead)

Album Direction-Of-Travel:  Southbound

Highlights:  Incredible Views, Shining Rock Wilderness

Length (one-way):  3.7 miles

Petzoldt Rating:  4.90

Difficulty:  MODERATE

Total Elevation Gain:  600' (approx. same both directions)

Elevation Gain/Mile:   162'/mile (approx. same both directions)

Min. Elevation:  2,460'

Max. Elevation:  3,280'

Blaze Color:  NONE

See Following Trip Reports for more info:

Black Balsam-Chestnut Bald Loop

Fork Mountain Trail via Black Balsam Knob

Shining Rock Loop (2013)

Shining Rock Loop (2018)

Tennent Mountain Loop (2012)

Tennent Mountain Loop (2016)

Connecting Trails:

Art Loeb Trail (#146)

Art Loeb Spur Trail (#108)

Flat Laurel Creek Trail (#346)

Fork Mountain Trail (#109)

Graveyard Ridge Trail (#356)

Little East Fork Trail (#107)

Old Butt Knob Trail (#332)

Sam Knob Trail (#617)