We were visiting Asheville for a day to take care of some work tasks in the morning. So of course, our minds wandered to how could we get outside and spend the afternoon. One of the places we ran across was the Black Balsam Bald. Doing some research, we found out that you could do the up and back or turn it into a 5-mile loop hike utilizing the Art Loeb trail and Ivestor Gap Trail. The latter allowed us to hike up two 6000-foot peaks in one day. We opted for the loop and are so happy we did. We are not super fit or super young, so we had reservations. However, we had no difficulty doing this hike. The 360-degree view vistas allowed at both of these peaks were worth the effort. The two peaks we visited were Black Balsam Bald and Tennent Mountain. It was an amazing hike. Truly unlike any hike we had experienced prior. To get here we took the Blue Ridge Parkway out of Asheville for over 40 miles. It took us a little over an hour to get here. Time flies on the parkway as you are seeing amazing views around every turn. Your exit from the parkway is at mile marker 420. The hike up the Art Loeb Trail takes you through a balsam fir forest until you leave the tree line. It was cool and sweet smelling from all the fallen needles on the ground. It also makes for easy walking albeit uphill. Once you leave the forest area you enter an area full of wildflowers and rock. The summit is a bald rock that we sat and took it all in. It is just under a mile to get to the peak of Black Balsam Bald. We opted to continue our trek to visit Tennent Mountain. The hike to Tennent was worth the effort as you are engulfed in rock and fauna surrounding you on the trail. Tennent was equally beautiful. After having a snack at the top of Tennent we continued until we found the Ivestor Gap Trail which took us back to the parking lot. It was a beautiful and exhilarating hike. We both enjoyed our 3 hours on the trail. Highly recommend a trip to these peaks. We will remember this for the rest of our lives.

30 minutes to the summit with unlimited views all around. If you want a challenge, head further into the mountains along the trails but if you want nonstop vistas and the chance to really savor them then climb this peak. Parking gets filled early in the day, by about 9am so plan an early start.

I've heard several people describe this as one of the best hikes in the area. I would have to agree with that description. The mountain is a bald so it offers incredible views in all directions. It is, however, a very popular trail so was very busy on the hike in. Once we passed the summit, the freeway crowds really disappeared. Great hike.