Are bear canisters required on Art Loeb Trail?
Bear Canisters You are required to use a bear canister on the Art Loeb Trail. Due to the popularity of the trail and past hikers’ negligence, the bears in this area, particularly the Shining Rock Gap section of the trail, are not afraid to take hikers’ food.
How long is the Art Loeb?
30-mile
The challenging Art Loeb Trail is a 30-mile hiking trail located in Pisgah National Forest.
Do you need a bear canister in Pisgah?
U.S. Forest Service Reminds Visitors, Bear Canisters are Required for Backcountr. PISGAH FOREST, N.C., January 20, 2017 – Bear canisters are still required in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Black Balsam, Sam’s Knob and Flat Laurel Creek Areas of the Pisgah Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest.
Are campfires allowed in Shining Rock Wilderness?
Additionally, in the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness Areas, campfires are not allowed, groups may not be larger than ten people at any time, and bicycles are not allowed in the wilderness areas. Bear canisters for food are required.
What size bear canister do I need?
There’s a simple rule of thumb for figuring out how many days of food you can fit into a bear canister. Find out the capacity of your bear canister in cubic inches and divide by 100. That will give you a pretty good approximate of the number of days of food you can cram into it.
Where is the Art Loeb Trail in North Carolina?
It skirts along the southwestern rim of the Davidson River valley, then climbs up past the Blue Ridge Parkway and skips across some of the highest peaks in the Black Balsam area before descending Cold Mountain to the Daniel Boone Scout Camp.
Where are the restrooms on the Art Loeb Trail?
Others use shorter sections of the trail for day hikes, or use connecting trails to form loops. There are two shelters, one at Butter Gap (8.6 mi) and the other at Deep Gap (15.1 mi). Restrooms are located at the parking area for Black Balsam Knob and at Davidson River Campground at the southern trail-head. Parking is available at both trail-heads.
When is the best time to hike the Art Loeb Trail?
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.
Where is the next bald you see in Asheville NC?
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.