General Information

Directions: This trail, completely within the Shining Rock Wilderness Area (see note below regarding wilderness areas and their signage), runs from the vicinity of Ivestor Gap to the Big East Fork Trail (#357). There are three ways to access its unmarked trailheads: ? From the Pisgah District Ranger Station/Visitor Center parking lot, turn right (north) on US 276. Proceed 14 miles north; turn right onto access ramp for the Blue Ridge Parkway, then left (south) on Parkway. Proceed south approximately 8½ miles to FS 816 (Black Balsam Road), on your right near milepost 420. Turn right and proceed 1.3 miles to the end of the road. Ivestor Gap Trail (#102) is an abandoned roadbed behind a gate on the east side of the parking lot. (The roadbed is open to motor vehicles from mid-August until January 2; however, it is highly recommended that only high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicles attempt to negotiate it, as the trail surface is rocky and rough for the first two miles.) Follow that trail for two miles to Ivestor Gap at the wilderness area’s boundary, then ¼ mile east along that boundary via Graveyard Ridge Trail (#356) to where it makes a sharp switchback to the right; the western trailhead for the Greasy Cove Trail is in the switchback. ? From US 276 north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the Big East Fork Trail (#357) to its end—see separate sheet. ? From the Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 417, take Bridges Camp Gap Trail (#607, no sheet available) to its end at the junction of Big East Fork (#357) and Greasy Cove trails.