Richland Balsam, Mountain summit in Great Balsam Range, North Carolina, US
Richland Balsam is a mountain summit in the Great Balsam Range that rises to 2,000 meters. Dense forests of spruce and fir trees cover the slopes, making it the highest point along the Blue Ridge Parkway in this area.
The forest underwent significant changes starting in the late 1970s when an introduced insect species began damaging the fir trees. This ecological disruption has shaped the forest composition visible today.
The name comes from the balsam and spruce trees that cover the slopes and define the landscape. Visitors experience this distinctive forest community while walking through the trails.
A marked loop trail leads to the summit from the nearby overlook and takes about two hours to complete. The climb is steep in sections, but the path is well-maintained and clearly marked throughout.
The mountain marks the boundary between two counties and is home to one of the few Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests in the region. This isolated forest type surprises visitors with its cool-climate feel in the southern mountains.
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