Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain

This is one of my all time favorite places, and I’m glad the challenge brings you to it. The minimum requirement of Black Balsam Knob hits the highest point in the Shining Rock area. I highly recommend going further on the Art Loeb Trail, and seeing the balds and the shining rock itself. At any point the trail comes down one of the balds, there’s usually a connector to ivestor gap that will take you along a relatively flat easy trail back to the parking lot. This place has some of the best scenery in WNC hands down.