Old Butt Knob and Shining Rock Loop in Pisgah National Forest, NC

Hike Old Butt Knob and Shining Rock Loop Pisgah National Forest, NC

Class 1 8.4 miles 3100 gain 4-6 hrs Loop May 1, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Old Butt Knob and Shining Rock Loop GPX Track

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This was a great loop that gave some nice views on the way up, and a loud and relaxing creek led the way down. I lucked out by choosing to hike during the rain because I was able to see the natural progression of countless runoffs merging to create Shining Creek from the top of the mountain. It was the first time I really got to see a creek start from a trickle and end with big waterfalls and a rushing current. Gorgeous.

The route starts out on a wide trail, but branches off up the Old Butt Knob Trail along Chestnut Ridge, where it climbs steeply to Old Butt Knob, lots of gorgeously forested trail to cover. The rdigeline leads over Dog Loser Knob and over to Shining Rock along the Art Loeb Trail briefly before the loop required me to head east down the North Prong Shining Creek.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Old Butt Knob
5525 ft
125 rise
2
Dog Loser Knob
5761 ft
121 rise
3
Shining Rock
6000 ft
240 rise

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I started out, despite the (what seemed like) monsoon.
I started out, despite the (what seemed like) monsoon.
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Super steep up to Old Butt Knob along Chestnut Ridge.
Super steep up to Old Butt Knob along Chestnut Ridge.
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Some nice views from within the trees.
Some nice views from within the trees.
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Steep, even with switchbacks.
Steep, even with switchbacks.
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Not really a summit, but here is the Old Butt Knob summit, I believe.
Not really a summit, but here is the Old Butt Knob summit, I believe.
Along the ridgeline from Old Butt Knob.
Along the ridgeline from Old Butt Knob.
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Dog Loser Knob. Shining Rock coming up in the distance.
Dog Loser Knob. Shining Rock coming up in the distance.
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The trails were super flooded from all the rain.
The trails were super flooded from all the rain.
Lots of switchbacks on narrow, flooded trails.
Lots of switchbacks on narrow, flooded trails.
Shining Rock Summit.
Shining Rock Summit.
Another summit view. This was taken from the top of the actual shiny rocks . The clouds started to clear, thankfully.
Another summit view. This was taken from the top of the actual shiny rocks . The clouds started to clear, thankfully.
Heading down past the Shining Rock.
Heading down past the Shining Rock.
A mini-scramble to get down from Shining Rock, which you can sort of see here.
A mini-scramble to get down from Shining Rock, which you can sort of see here.
Continuing down to the Art Loeb Trail, which marks the point where the second half of the loop begins.
Continuing down to the Art Loeb Trail, which marks the point where the second half of the loop begins.
Heading down North Prong Shining Creek.
Heading down North Prong Shining Creek.
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Lots of waterfalls from the rain - not sure which ones are just runoff and which are streams.
Lots of waterfalls from the rain - not sure which ones are just runoff and which are streams.
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So much runoff, a lot of which followed the trail, ultimately leading into Shining Creek.
So much runoff, a lot of which followed the trail, ultimately leading into Shining Creek.
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The sun came out and everything was blissful.
The sun came out and everything was blissful.
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Shining Creek eventually leads you to the split where you went up to Old Butt Knob. Head back to the trailhead from there.
Shining Creek eventually leads you to the split where you went up to Old Butt Knob. Head back to the trailhead from there.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!