Visit the summit of Cold Mountain, at just over 6000ft, it’s the highest peak in the Shining Rock Wilderness. Take a long high altitude adventure over balds and cliffs to the famous summit and back.
This 18 mile hike puts together a long loop using several different trails in the Shining Rock Wilderness. The terrain and landscape is incredibly diverse, and this hike delivers in many different ways. I started from the Black Balsam Knob parking area on the Ivestor Gap trail, which begins as a gated forest service road that is seasonally open to off-road vehicles for a short time in the Fall/Winter. You’ll follow this trail for for approximately 4.5 miles, where it will eventually join the Little East Fork trail and end at the Art Loeb Trail near Shining Rock Gap. You’ll intersect with the Art Loeb Trail and the Black Balsam trail several times before reaching the end of Ivestor Gap.
Here you’ll go left to join the Art Loeb Trail the rest of the way towards Cold Mountain. The next mile is a beautiful and easy walk through laurel tunnels among large quartz boulders. Enjoy that, because you will begin a steep 2 mile rugged descent down Stairs Mountain and along the “Narrows” section of the Art Loeb. While the terrain is difficult you will likely find incredible long range views in clear weather. Continue on to reach the base of Cold Mountain.
Here you’ll leave the Art Loeb and make the 1.4 mile climb to the summit of Cold Mountain. While some parts are very rocky and steep, overall the climb is not too difficult. There are great views and rock cliffs just before and at the summit of Cold Mountain. Some parts of the trail can become overgrown in the spring and summer, and the trail may be difficult to follow as there are numerous side trails and campsites.
After enjoying the view, descend and return back up the Art Loeb Trail the same way you came. When you reach Shining Rock Gap, rejoin the Art Loeb instead of Ivestor Gap and continue back up over the balds of Flower Knob and Tennent Mountain. After Tennent, take the Black Balsam Trail to continue up and over the final climb. You can take the Art Loeb Spur Trail back to the parking area, or continue down the Black Balsam trail and walk back a short distance on Black Balsam Rd.
The route as described is just over 18 miles. It can be done as a day hike or a more leisurely overnight trip.
Tennent Mountain
Black Balsam Knob