Black Balsam Hike on Art Loeb Trail

A Blue Ridge Parkway classic, this is a local favorite

Surrounded by wilderness, this tree-free ‘bald’ is an easy, family-friendly hike, ideal for picnicking or blueberry picking.

Appalachian “balds” such as Black Balsam and nearby Sam Knob and Tennent Mountain are unique in that they are covered with grass and low-growing vegetation rather than alpine forests, which would be more common at such a high altitude (Black Balsam is at an elevation of 6,214 feet).

What To Expect

Photo credit: @aspiring_nomad.99

When you arrive, you’ll see cars parked along the shoulder of Black Balsam Knob road (this area is about 0.7 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the parking area for the Art Loeb Trail, which you’ll take to get to Black Balsam Knob. 

After a brief walk through a wooded area and somewhat rocky terrain, you’ll enter an open meadow with incredible 360-degree views. Here, you’ll pass through areas of exposed rock and low-growing bushes (including blueberries). The trail ascends gently to the top of Black Balsam Knob.

From the trailhead to the knob, the hike is only 1 mile. You can get to the next bald you see, Tennant Mountain, by taking the Art Loeb Trail for another easy 1.5 miles. From here, you can continue on the Art Loeb Trail until it meets the Ivestor Gap Trail, which will loop back to Black Balsam Knob Road (a little north of where you parked) for a 5-mile total hike.  

This trail is extremely popular, especially in summer during the height of blueberry season (mid to late August) and fall. Hike on a weekday to avoid the heavier trail traffic of the weekend. If the weekend is your only option, arrive early if you can.

Directions

From downtown, take I-240 West to I-26 East. Take Exit 33 (marked Blue Ridge Parkway-Brevard Road-Hwy 191). Turn left (south) onto Highway 191 and go 2.1 miles, passing brown signs for Blue Ridge Parkway and NC Arboretum. Turn right at the entrance to The North Carolina Arboretum and follow signs for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn south on the parkway and drive to Milepost 420.2, Black Balsam. Turn right onto Black Balsam Road. After about .7 mile, you’ll see cars parked on the shoulder of the road near the entrance to the Art Loeb trail. Park where you can here and enter the trail on the right.

Know Before You Go

The temperature at Black Balsam is sometimes as much as 20 degrees cooler than in Asheville. It can get very windy and there’s little shade, so plan for the weather. Camping is allowed anywhere as long as you’re 500 feet off the trail.

GPS Coordinates 

35.320609, -82.876243