Family Backpacking on the Art Loeb Trail

Just a few hours from Charlotte is the wildly beautiful Pisgah National Forest and its wonderful trail system. To soak up this beauty and get away from the Charlotte crowds, we went on a weekend backpacking trip along the Art Loeb Trail. National Geographic Adventure listed the Art Loeb Trail as one of the thirty best North American hikes.
Our trip started just outside of Brevard, North Carolina at the Fish Hatchery parking lot. We created a loop by incorporating the Cat Gap Trail, Butter Gap Trail, Art Loeb Trail, and Long Branch Trail, with an overnight stay on the Art Loeb Trail. The entire hike was approximately 15 miles, give or take a couple of miles. We did get lost once and ended up hiking some extra miles while searching for water. Despite that, we absolutely loved this backpacking experience. The forest sections were breathtaking, the mountain laurels were in full bloom, and we encountered a couple of stunning waterfalls along the way, perfect for rejuvenating pit stops. Plus, we were thrilled to have our furry friend Luna with us as dogs are welcome on the trail. We hope sharing this trip inspires you to take some time to embrace and appreciate the beauty of nature. Happy adventuring!