Art Loeb-Grassy Cove Summit Spur Trail Junction

The summit spur is easily missed. It is marked by this weathered post and the trail is barely visible.

Grassy Cove Top Summit - 6,040'

The miniature summit cairn, located just off the right side of the trail, is almost hidden by the red Huckleberry bushes.

Grassy Cove Top Summit - 6,040'

Looking west towards the Middle Prong Wilderness and the Great Balsam Range.

Grassy Cove Top Summit - 6,040'

Grassy Cove Top - I believe this is north anyway. I'm pretty sure the distant peak in the center is Cold Mountain, 8 miles away.

Grassy Cove Top Summit - 6,040'

Looking north along the ridge I have travelled. Tennent Mt is the closest but it almost completely blends in with the massive summit ridge of Black Balsam Knob beyond.

Grassy Cove Top Summit - 6,040'

The familiar twin summits of Sam Knob are clearly visible to the Southwest.

Grassy Cove Summit Spur

The colors on this hike were amazing. The reds of the huckleberry bushes contrast with the green of the rhododendrons against a clear blue sky. Perfect.

Grassy Cove Summit Spur

As you can see in this photo calling the route to the summit of Grassy Cove Top a "trail" is being generous.

Grassy Cove Summit Spur

This beautiful plant was quite common along the open ridge and grows to well over 6 feet in height. I just thought the red berries against the cobalt sky were beautiful.

Art Loeb Trail

As you approach Flower Gap Shining Rock is clearly visible rising beyond the next rise in the ridge-Flower Knob.

Art Loeb Trail

The view east as you travel the ridge north of Grassy Cove Top. Mt. Pisgah(5721') is the pointed peak at the left end of the ridge.

Art Loeb Trail

Descending through the Huckleberry towards Flower Gap.

Art Loeb Trail

From Flower Gap the Art Loeb continues north over Flower Knob.

Art Loeb Trail

As the trail drops off the north side of Flower Knob you drop back into the trees.

Shining Rock Gap

Shining Rock Gap - Three seperate trails intersect the Art Loeb here and there is not a sign to be found. Here I turned onto the Old Butt Knob Trail which heads right in this photo towards the tall pines.

Old Butt Knob Trail

As you descend to Shining Rock Gap the woods explode with color as there are more deciduous trees.

Old Butt Knob Trail

About a tenth of a mile up the Old Butt Knob Trail you reach a open area in the pines strewn roots and boulders. Ahead you will see a large cliff(obscured in this photo by the glare). The unnamed Shining Rock summit spur heads right uphill from here.

Old Butt Knob Trail

You'll know you are on the right track when you may see what looks like snow piled between the trees ahead. Upon closer inspection you'll find you're looking at giant chunks of white quartz!

Shining Rock

Shining Rock - The view south of the ridge I just travelled. Grassy Cove Top is the pine-studded peak closest to the left. Tennent Mt. is barely visible beyond the right end of Grassy Cove's summit. Black Balsam Knob rises above all the rest in the distance center.

Shining Rock

It feels really strange scrambling your way up these brilliant white rocks. This is a view of the slightly lower western summit ledges of Shining Rock.

Shining Rock

Been There, Done That Photo - 6040' - I have found few more uniquely beautiful places in these mountians. Minus the guy in the photo of course:)

Shining Rock Summit - 6040'

Shining Rock Summit - 6040'

Shining Rock

The twin summits of Sam Knob are visible to the southwest with Mt. Hardy rising to the right beyond.

Shining Rock

I wandered a few of the numerous trails that criss-cross the ridge to the west of Shining Rock. There was not much to see save this view down into the Shining Creek Valley. The Grassy Cove Ridge is the closest ridge entering the photo from the right.

Ivestor Gap Trail

As I headed back south from Shining Rock Gap I happened to look back over my shoulder and catch this glimpse of Shining Rock through the trees.

Ivestor Gap Trail

An open mountain path, blue skies, autumn colors...does it get any better than this?

Ivestor Gap Trail

Looking out over the Great Balsam Mountains. The Shining Rock Wilderness drops into the valley in the foreground where it meets the Middle Prong Wilderness at NC-215. The Middle Prong Wilderness includes the lower Fork Ridge and the much higher Lickstone Ridge, including Richland Balsam(6410'), beyond. Near Ivestor Gap.

Ivestor Gap Trail

The owners of those tents must have decided they liked the spot enough for another night! Ivestor Gap.

Ivestor Gap Trail

Just south of Ivestor Gap is this beautiful view back to Grassy Cove Top(6040') and, just visible, Shining Rock(6040') to the extreme left.

Ivestor Gap Trail

I pass the Shining Rock Wilderness boundary back into "civilization." Ivestor Gap.

Ivestor Gap Trail

My bad knee was acting up so I decided to opt for the less vertically challenging Ivestor Gap Trail to get me back to the Black Balsam Knob Access Road. Ivestor Gap.

Ivestor Gap Trail

The pine-spotted western flank of Black Balsam Knob ahead with the high peaks of the Great Balsam Range beyond.

Ivestor Gap Trail

The Ivestor Gap Trail actually doubles as an access road for National Forest vehicles to access the Shining Rock Wilderness. There are many beautiful views along this trail but it has all the excitement of walking a gravel road.

Ivestor Gap Trail

Sam Knob from the Ivestor Gap Trail not far from the Black Balsam Knob Access Road.

Ivestor Gap Trail

As I neared the parking area at the end of the Black Balsam Knob Access Road the trail became quite wet in spots.

Ivestor Gap Trailhead

The parking area at the access road was packed, as you can see here. From this parking area you can also access the Flat Laurel Creek Trail which leads past Sam Knob to NC-215.

Black Balsam Road

The only problem with taking the Ivestor Gap Trail back is that you have to follow the Black Balsam Knob access road a quarter mile or so back to the Art Loeb parking area. A great day on the trail regardless!!