Take a moderate hike along this trail, interestingly enough a roughly 6.66 mile loop hike to astounding views on the aptly nicknamed “Devil’s 5 Point”! Experience a variety of terrain and forest on this amazing collection of 5 different and fairly moderate trails with just a little less than 1000ft of elevation gain over the hike.
Start from the parking area at Devils Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Begin up the paved path to the summit. Just before the summit trail heads right, go left from the paved trail to join the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST). After the initial climb up, you’ll enjoy a pretty gentle up and over as you take a left on to the Little Sam trail after .7 miles. Follow the Little Sam trail to where it ends and intersects with the Flat Laurel Creek Trail. Take a right here and head UP the trail, which may be a creek most times of the year at some points. There will also be a few other prominent water crossings. Your feet will probably get wet in higher water.
At the end of the Flat Laurel Creek trail, you’ll reach the parking area at the end of Black Balsam Road (FS 816). Continue on the paved road back towards the Parkway, until you reach the obvious and signed crossing of the MST/Art Loeb Trail on your right, about .5 miles down the paved road from the dead end parking circle. You could also choose to make a longer hike by continuing up to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain or the Ivestor Gap trail, but that is not part of the hike today.
The next few miles are some of the most beautiful trail in the area, and offer several long range views if the weather is clear. Take caution near the steep drops and cliff edges along this section. Continue past the intersection on your left for the Art Loeb Trail on Silvermine Bald and continue following the MST down. You will reach the summit trail at Devils Courthouse once again, and continue up to the summit! Looking down on your car and the valley below, enjoy the view, and finish the short hike back down to the parking area.