The original blaze for the trail — a yellow hiker’s silhouette, 1971

The Art Loeb Trail, the longest and most challenging
trail in the Pisgah National Forest, winds through some of the most rugged
parts of North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. The thirty-mile trail gains 4,000
feet of elevation one way, and 3,000 feet of elevation if hiked in the other
direction, giving credence to the idea that it’s “uphill both ways.”  It takes you through meadows, river valleys,
the Shining Rock Wilderness, and across the well-known peaks of Cedar Rock
Mountain, Black Balsam Knob, Pilot Mountain, and Tennet Mountain.

There are four distinct sections of the trail, which
was created by the Forest Service from several smaller trails. Many side roads
and trails connect to the Art Loeb Trail, making it easy to choose shorter and
less strenuous hikes to enjoy parts of the daunting trail. One end is located at
the Davidson River Campground and the other is at Camp Daniel Boone off NC
Highway 215. It’s a foot-traffic-only trail that does allow backwoods camping
and is marked by white blazes, though the original blazes were yellow and
included the silhouette of a hiker.

The Carolina Mountain Club is responsible for the
creation of the Art Loeb Trail. The CMC began in 1923 and over time, the group
developed their focus on group hiking, trail construction and maintenance, and
social activities related to hiking and conservation, such as hosting speakers
and advocacy. Early efforts were focused on the Appalachian Trail, but later, more
trails of the region were added.

The original plaque at Black Balsam Knob (later stolen) which shows the intended path of the Art Loeb Trail over Cold Mountain, 1985

When CMC vice-president and board member Arthur Joseph
Loeb passed away in December of 1968, the club looked for a way to honor his
memory. The trail seemed a fitting tribute to his memory, considering how much
time he and other club members had spent creating and maintaining the many
trails, footpaths, and old roads that would eventually be consolidated into one
hiking trail bearing his name. Passage over Cold Mountain was originally
proposed, but the land was not in the possession of the U.S. Forest Service,
and so it was re-routed. The trail does connect to a spur that leads to Cold
Mountain, for those who wish to follow the originally intended path. The CMC
filed their trail proposal in June of 1969, and in November, the dedication of
the Arthur J. Loeb Memorial Trail, now more commonly known as the Art Loeb
Trail, took place.

In next week’s
article, learn more about the life and accomplishments of Art Loeb and why a
trail was dedicated in his memory. Photographs and information for this column are
provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.
This article was written by Local History Librarian Laura Gardner. For more
information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820.