Shining Rock Wilderness

[BJett]

Shining Rock Wilderness in North Carolina was included in the original 1964 Wilderness Act, and has since been expanded to 18,500 acres.
Located in the Pisgah Ranger District of NC, the Art Loeb National Recreation Trail is the highlight here. Section 3 of the Art Loeb goes up and over 6,000' summits and balds, and most of the trail in the Wilderness is above the treeline making for the most spectacular views in the southern Appalachians.
We did a 10 mile shuttle hike from the Black Balsam section of the Art Loeb to the Shining Rock Creek trailhead near the Big East Fork of the Pigeon River. A day hike from camp to 6000' Cold Mountain added another 9 miles.

Approaching 6,200' Black Balsam Mountain

6000' Tennant Mountain

Art Loeb section 3

Morning light at Shining Rock Gap

Camp trillium

Jack in the Pulpit

White quartz gives the area its name. On the trail to Deep Gap

6000' Cold Mountain, the same Cold Mountain made famous in Charles Fraziers book (the movie was ok)...

Stunning sunset from Shining Rock

Wildflowers and waterfalls along Shining Creek

Shining Rock Creek

https://www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/shining-rock-wilderness/

 

[Vegan.Hiker]

Amazing photos! I really need to make it down there.

 

[Glasterpiece]

Beautiful pics. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Miya]

Gorgeous views! I really love the clouds that you got to experience!

 

[DrNed]

Love the morning light and sunset photos.

 

[Outdoors24]

Looks like it was a great trip. Thanks for sharing!

 

[wsp_scott]

I've only been there once about 5 years ago. The number of dayhikers from the Blue Ridge Parkway was insane near Black Balsam Knob, it did not feel like wilderness at all. With that said, it is a beautiful area that I would like to revisit in the middle of the week.

Nice photos, thanks

 

[WasatchWill]

Beautiful shots!

 

[McKee80]

Thanks! Wonderful pictures!

 

[danger02ward]

Love the sunset pictures! Beautiful!

 

[BJett]

I've only been there once about 5 years ago. The number of dayhikers from the Blue Ridge Parkway was insane near Black Balsam Knob, it did not feel like wilderness at all. With that said, it is a beautiful area that I would like to revisit in the middle of the week.

Nice photos, thanks

Avoid that place like the plague on weekends! Week days can still have crowds but much easier to get away after Black Balsam.