Three Michigan students tackled a 72-mile loop through North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest with 16,325 feet of elevation gain, 16 peaks, and zero reservation fees. Their detailed trip report reveals why this challenging route offers incredible mountain views without the crowds or costs of popular national parks.
"The Pisgah Forest is beautiful and this trail was a steal," the trip leader wrote on Reddit's r/backpacking. "No reservation, camp or parking fees make this truly a hidden gem."
For backpackers frustrated by the reservation lottery systems plaguing parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains, Pisgah represents a refreshing alternative: just show up and hike.
THE ROUTE: Art Loeb Trail Plus Extensions
The group completed the famous Art Loeb Trail and added 40 miles by connecting other trails in the area. Over five days in March, they climbed 16 peaks and experienced "some of the most incredible views I've ever seen," according to the trip leader.
The route's highlights included multiple ridge walks with panoramic mountain views—many of which aren't even on the main Art Loeb Trail. "This is a great trail that connects some of the unseen beauty in the Pisgah forest," they noted.
The most brutal sections:
1. First 5 miles of Art Loeb (southbound): 3,000 feet of elevation gain in 5-6 miles. "Absolutely brutal," the hiker admitted.
2. First 2 miles of Thompson River Creek Trail (Day 4): 2,000 feet up in just 2 miles. The group called this "without a doubt" the hardest part of the entire 72-mile trek.
