Itinerary
- Day 1
Asheville to Shining Rock Wilderness
You'll start the morning with a scenic 1-hour shuttle from Asheville through Brevard to the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at Looking Glass Falls along the way. From there, you're hiking about 5 miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain on the Art Loeb Trail, going over Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain while you take in views of the Appalachian Mountains. You'll eat lunch on one of the peaks or in the meadows, then head to your basecamp near Shining Rock Gap. Your guide prepares a fresh dinner at sunset on Shining Rock summit, so you'll end the day high up with great views.
- Start point
- Asheville, North Carolina, United States (Arrival transfer from your accommodation, 05:00 - 08:00)
- Meals
- Lunch (Meal at summit or in Ivestor Gap meadows), Dinner (Sunset dinner on Shining Rock summit, prepared fresh by guide)
Included Activities
- Stop at Looking Glass Falls roadside attraction
- Hike Art Loeb Trail over Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain (approximately 5 miles, 1000 feet elevation gain)
- Lunch at summit or in Ivestor Gap meadows
- Basecamp setup near Shining Rock Gap
- Sunset dinner on Shining Rock summit
Landmarks Looking Glass Falls Blue Ridge Parkway Black Balsam Knob Tennent Mountain Ivestor Gap Shining Rock - Day 2
Shining Rock Wilderness
Starting from your basecamp near Shining Rock Gap, you have two options. The longer hike is about 9 miles with 1795 feet of elevation gain and loss, taking you to Cold Mountain summit at 6,030 feet for wide-ranging views and lunch at the top before heading back. Or you can do the shorter route, roughly 5 miles with 750 feet of elevation loss to the Narrows ridgeline for lunch, then spend extra time exploring Shining Rock's quartzite rock formations. Either way, you're back at camp for dinner that your guide prepares.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Summit lunch at Cold Mountain or lunch along the Narrows ridgeline), Dinner (Hearty Appalachian dinner prepared by guide)
Included Activities
- Option 1: Hike to Cold Mountain summit (approximately 9 miles, 1795 feet elevation gain/loss) with lunch at summit
- Option 2: Hike to the Narrows ridgeline (approximately 5 miles, 750 feet elevation loss) with lunch at scenic ridgeline
- Option 2: Extra time to explore Shining Rock quartzite rock outcroppings
- Dinner at basecamp
Landmarks Cold Mountain Shining Rock The Narrows - Day 3
Shining Rock Wilderness to Asheville
You'll hike down the Shining Creek trail (about 4.1 miles with 2550 feet of elevation loss) carrying a light day pack while porters handle breaking down camp and moving your gear out. Along the way you stop to see multiple cascades on the trail. At Big East Fork, you transfer back to your vehicle and drive to a Blue Ridge Parkway viewpoint for lunch while you talk through the highlights of your adventure. Then it's about 1 hour driving back to Asheville, where you can get a hot shower and rest up.
- End point
- Asheville, North Carolina, United States (Departure transfer back to your accommodation, 17:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Blue Ridge Parkway viewpoint)
Included Activities
- Hike down Shining Creek trail (approximately 4.1 miles, 2550 feet elevation loss)
- Stop at multiple cascades along the trail
- Lunch at Blue Ridge Parkway viewpoint
Landmarks Shining Creek Big East Fork Blue Ridge Parkway
