Art Loeb Trail National Recreation Trail - Section 1

12.3 mi - Difficult - After beginning near, then leaving, the Davidson River, Section 1 climbs steeply to Shut-in Ridge. Once there, don’t expect the hard part to be over—the trail will take you up and down knobs, along ridges and down into several gaps. Points of interest include ridge top views; Cedar Rock Mountain; and Butter Gap Shelter, where there is a spring very close by. [Note: On Section 1, in addition to white blazes, you may also see blue dots, which are leftovers from a trail designation no longer in use.]

Approximate Elevation Change: 1,300 feet
Blaze: White

Specific Trail Information

Trail Number

TR 146

Trail Type

Standard/Terra Trail — A trail that has a surface consisting predominantly of the ground and that is designed and managed to accommodate use on that surface.

General Information

Year-round

yes

Hiking Trail: foot traffic only.

Getting There

Directions

Leaving the Pisgah District Ranger Station/Visitor Center parking lot, turn left on US 276. Go approximately ¼ mile and turn right onto the Davidson River Campground access road; immediately turn left and park in the Art Loeb Trailhead parking lot. Go behind the gate at the end of the parking lot and follow the dirt road to a footbridge on the right. Cross the Davidson River via the bridge and immediately turn left alongside the river, downstream. (Disregard the informal trail that leads away from the river to the Job Corps Center.) The other end of this section of the Art Loeb Trail is at Gloucester Gap, where overnight parking is not recommended.