Black Balsam Hike on Art Loeb Trail
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway long enough and you’ll begin to recognize a certain kind of view — sweeping, wind-brushed, and seemingly endless. More often than not, you’re picturing Black Balsam Knob.
Rising to 6,214 feet, this high-elevation “bald” offers panoramic vistas with very little effort required. The hike is approachable and family-friendly, yet the reward feels expansive: uninterrupted long-range views, wild blueberries in late summer, and the kind of golden-hour glow that slows conversations to a hush.
Like neighboring Sam Knob and Tennent Mountain, Black Balsam is part of a rare Southern Appalachian landscape where grassy summits replace dense forest at high elevation. Surrounded by the protected wilderness of Pisgah National Forest, it feels both exposed and embraced — a place where the wind moves freely and the mountains remind you how small, and how lucky, you are.
For the most up-to-date conditions, check AllTrails page and read recent reviews.
- Length: 2 miles round trip to Black Balsam (with options to add on to create a longer hike or loop).Duration of Hike: 1 hourElevation Gain: 400 feetBlazes: NoFacilities & Parking: Marked parking spaces on the shoulder of Black Balsam Knob Road.Features: Views, Kid Friendly, Pet Friendly, Wild Flowers, Mountain Bald, Open Trail
What can I expect at Black Balsam?
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.
What is the best way to get to Black Balsam?
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
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