SOTA Guide: Black Balsam, W4C/CM-005

• At 9 AM on Memorial Day, parking was almost full; by 11 AM, everything was full.

Drive Guide - Black Balsam Knob from Richland Balsam

• Duration: 0:20, 11.5 miles
• Directions:
  • Left on BRP and go 10.8
  • Left on Black Balsam Knob Rd at BRP mile 420.2 and go 0.7. Trailhead on R.

Drive Guide - Black Balsam Knob from Atlanta

• Duration: 3:20, 173 miles. (Google says 3:10; experience says 3:20.)
• Google Maps URL from Atlanta:
• Seasonal/Limited Access: Blue Ridge Parkway closed in winter. KI4SVM says “often access from the side Hwy 215 is available… BRP’s infoline… is highly recommended - 828-298-0398.”
• Directions:
  • I-85 N and go 16.6
  • I-985/GA-365 N and go 52
  • US-441 N and go 44
  • R on US-64 E and go 20
  • Ramp for 64 E and go 13.1
  • L on BRP access rd and go 0.5
  • L on Blue Ridge Parkway and go 23.3
  • L on Black Balsam Rd at BRP mile 420.2 and go 0.7. Trailhead is on R.
• Food
  • Last McDonalds: 7512 Skyland Dr Sylva, NC (1.4 miles from exit); exit 85 (US-23 Business) on US-64.
  • Avoid McDonalds in Franklin and Clayton. Slow service.
  • Before that: Cornelia, on Level Grove Rd (just BEFORE Cornelia)

Drive Guide - Black Balsam Knob from Green Knob

• Duration: 0:15, ? miles
• Seasonal/Limited Access: See note under “Black Balsam Knob from Atlanta”.
• Directions:
  • West on BRP (right, from the trail coming down from Green Knob) and go 5.7
  • R on Black Balsam Rd (Road #815) at BRP mile 420.2 and go 0.7. Paved.

Drive Guide - Black Balsam Knob to Atlanta

• Duration: 3:15, 177 miles
• Google Maps URL: http://tinyurl.com/BlackBalsamKPK
• Directions:
  • Drive SE (back toward BRP) and go 0.7
  • R on BRP and go 23.3
  • R onto exit for US-23 and go 0.5
  • R on US-23 S and go 13
  • Ramp to US-441 S and go 20.5
  • Ramp to US-23 S and go 21.8
  • R on US-23 S and go 11
  • R on US-23 S and go 40
  • S on I-985 S and S on I-85 S

Trail Guide

• Duration: 0:30 up, 0:25 down, 0.7 miles
• Navigation
  • Follow the Art Loeb Trail about 1/2 mile through the forest to reach the alpine meadows. Cross the first Knob and continue to Black Balsam. Deeply eroded dirt trail plus walks on exposed granite.
• Trailhead altitude: About 5895’
• Summit altitude: 6214’
• Grid square: EM85nh
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Trailhead: 35.320654,-82.876193 (along road - not at restroom parking lot)
  • Summit: 35.328, -82.8746

Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree: no. Space to guy mast: yes.
• Cell coverage: 2018: No AT&T; APRS OK. 2016: AT&T Cell + internet.