Art Loeb Trail Thru-Hike

July 24-27, 2026
September 22-25, 2026

Join us for this 4 day, 31 mile backpacking trip on the rugged and scenic Art Loeb Trail. The Art Loeb Trail is listed as one of the 33 Best Hikes in North America by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, and for good reason! It is a beautiful, challenging hike traveling over grassy balds, up 6000ft peaks, along bubbling creeks, and through lush forests. We'll hike the trail southbound from Daniel Boone Scout Camp to Davidson River Campground, tackling over 9,000ft of total elevation gain and 10,000ft of total elevation loss. Because this trail is rugged and challenging at times, it is ideal for folks who have some previous backpacking experience. Hikers who are already comfortable on trail or have a high level of physical fitness will find this to be an incredibly rewarding first backpacking trip! 

"The level of professionalism and attention to every detail is wonderful. This is a 5 star
company and we had a fantastic time." - N.Z., Private Art Loeb Trail Backpacking Trip

Cost:

$1075 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for all trips. Please reach out to us at trips@blueridgehikingco.com for more information.

This trip requires a minimum of 2 hikers in order to run. If the minimum has not yet been met, we'll reach out to the registered hiker about 1 month before the trip to discuss options. The maximum group size is 6 hikers. If you are traveling in a party of 4 or more hikers, we encourage you to consider a private backpacking trip. You can find more information about our private trip offerings by sending us an email.

In addition to your guide, this price includes backpacking gear, food while you're on trail, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits and fees. Price also includes access to a pre-trip Zoom call, where you can ask questions about your upcoming trip. It does not include personal items or gratuity for your guide.

Sign-Up Details:

In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our Trip Calendar and select the trip start date. You will find the trip listed there. 

A few weeks before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with a pre-trip email that includes all information for you to prepare for your trip, a waiver packet for you to complete (waiver, health form, and gear request form), and a detailed packing list.

Itinerary:

Trip meets at 8am in Asheville, NC. We'll shuttle to a covered picnic area in Pisgah Forest NC; hikers can choose to meet there at 9am instead of in Asheville.

You will begin your day with a pack shakedown. Your guide will hand out your gear, go over necessary packing items, and discuss safety, weather, and logistics for the trip. He will walk you through how to properly pack your pack, and may look in detail at the items you've packed to make sure you're not carrying too many extra items. Around 11am, you will be shuttled to Daniel Boone Scout Camp, where you will begin your trip.

You'll hike approximately 31 miles over 4 days, ranging from 6 to 10 miles per day. The Art Loeb Trail is notoriously rugged, with challenging navigation through the Shining Rock Wilderness, unrelenting climbs and descents, and rocky terrain. The first half of your trip will be along the Balsam range, featuring 3 6,000ft peaks and some of the most iconic views in Western NC (including Cold Mountain and Black Balsam Knob). After you cross the Blue Ridge Parkway, you'll descend into rolling forested terrain for the second half of the trip. You'll finish your hike at Davidson River Campground.  

Participants should be able to complete a 15 mile day hike over hilly or mountainous terrain, or a 17 mile walk on flat ground.

Hike generally finished around mid-afternoon on the last day. Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participants needs and abilities. Please inform the admin team or your guide ahead of time if you have a time constraint the last day of your trip.

Elevation profile created with Gaia GPS.

Trip Difficulty Rating:

Participants on this trip should have a minimum fitness level of 6 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 7-8 out of 10. This is an Intermediate trip, meaning hikers should have some previous backpacking experience. All participants in our group backpacking trips should be comfortable by themselves on trail for at least 30 minutes. For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty Page.

Guide:

Your guide for this trip has not yet been determined. All of our guides have extensive backcountry knowledge and experience, and are certified in Wilderness First Aid (or higher) and CPR.

What we Provide:

Food: BRHC provides all on-trail food. You will have the ability to choose your own food from our wide selection, and you will carry your own food during the trip. We do our best to cater to requests, though it is important to keep to lightweight foods appropriate for backpacking. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform our team in your pre-trip paperwork.

Individual Use Gear: BRHC provides high quality, ultralight, cottage industry backpacking gear to make your experience as comfortable as possible.  We offer the following five pieces of gear at no additional cost:
Backpacks - We use a lightweight 60L pack. We will ask for your height and weight in order to fit the pack appropriately to you.
Tents - We provide a one-person tent, or and two-person tent if you are sharing with a partner or friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners.
Sleeping Pads - We provide hikers with a closed-cell foam pad, for its excellent combination of weight and durability. Inflatable sleeping pads are available for an additional rental fee
Trekking Poles - These will provide you with some added stability while hiking, and may be used to set up your tent.

Community Gear: BRHC provides all community gear for the trip, including water filters, camping stoves and fuel, bowls, utensils and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; and navigational aids.

What to Bring:

We will send all participants a detailed packing list before the trip. You are expected to bring your own clothing, personal gear (such as headlamps and water bottles), medications, and approved optional items. We will send a detailed packing list with your trip information packet after you book. Generally, comfortable walking shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please do not pack any cotton - if it gets wet, it does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm. Athletic clothes are a good option. You will need only one outfit to hike in and one outfit to sleep in, plus a raincoat, and a warm layer. Overnight temperatures can be cool at higher elevations; we recommend packing a set of baselayers, a warm hat, and a pair of lightweight gloves. You will not need a new set of clean clothes each day. You will not need any make-up, hair products, scented products or deodorant. Just bring a toothbrush and toothpaste and enjoy going all natural for the trip!

Cancellation Policy:

Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hikes may be cancelled up to 1 month before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% admin fee). Within 1 month, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 1 week, no refunds will be offered. If Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather, we'll offer a refund less the 15% admin fee. We are unable to offer exceptions to this policy; we strongly recommend all hikers purchase travel insurance to cover their trip.

Hikers may reschedule their trip once (at least 1 month before their trip) free of charge. Additional changes to their reservation date may result in a rescheduling fee.

We hike rain or shine! While it is incredibly rewarding, backpacking is an endurance sport, and it can be challenging and/or uncomfortable at times. Maintaining a positive mindset, even when it is uncomfortable, is key to enjoying your time in the wilderness. With our focus on lightweight gear, our goal is for your pack to weigh around 25lbs (or no more than 25% of your body weight).

If your guide does an exceptional job, please show your appreciation with a tip. Our team of highly trained professional guides never expects but always appreciates a tip. Industry standard gratuity for a guided backpacking trip is 20-25% of trip price.

If you have any questions regarding this trip, you can reach our office by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.