SOTA Guide: Richland Balsam - W4C/WM-003

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam from Black Balsam

• Duration: 20 minutes, 11.6 miles
• Directions:
  • Head back to BRP on Black Balsam Knob Rd
  • R on BRP and go 10.8
  • R into parking lot. “Haywood Jackson Overlook. Elevation 6020”. No restroom.

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam from Mt Hardy (Mt Hardy Gap)

• Duration: 10 minutes, 6.8 miles
• Directions:
  • Head compass north (BRP south, toward Cherokee) on BRP and go 6.8
  • R into parking lot. “Haywood Jackson Overlook. Elevation 6020”. No restroom.

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam from Atlanta

• Duration: 165 miles, 2:55. Google Maps: https://tinyurl.com/atl-to-richland

• Seasonal/Limited Access: Parkway closed in winter. Check the BRP Closure Map.

• Directions:
  • I-285 to I-85N.
  • I-985/GA-365 and go 52.6
  • US-23N and go 76.6
  • L to Blue Ridge Pky access and go 0.5
  • L onto Blue Ridge Pky and go 12.5
    • PAST big sign: “Richland Balsam Highest Point on Parkway”. Not here.
  • L into parking lot. “Haywood Jackson Overlook. Elevation 6020”. No restroom.
• Food
  • Last McDonalds: Avoid Franklin + Clayton. Slow on Saturday A.M.
  • Antepenultimate: Cornelia, on Level Grove Rd (just BEFORE Cornelia)

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam from Waterrock Knob

• Duration: 33 minutes, 20.5 miles
• Directions:
  • Drive the driveway toward Parkway and go 0.3
  • L onto Parkway and go 20.2
  • L into parking. “Haywood Jackson Overlook. Elevation 6020”.

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam from Barnett Knob

• Duration: 51 minutes, 31.2 miles
• Directions:
  • Right turn on Parkway and go 31.2
  • L into parking. “Haywood Jackson Overlook. Elevation 6020”

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam from Steestachee Bald

• Duration: 0:10, 5.7 miles
• SW on Parkway (right turn, out of parking) and go 5.7 miles
  • Pass lot on RIGHT for the overlook (same side as drop-off) near milepost 431.
  • Big sign, “Richland Balsam Highest Point on Parkway”. No restroom.
  • L into parking. Sign: Haywood Jackson Overlook. Elevation 6020”. No restroom.

Drive Guide - Richland Balsam TO Atlanta

• Duration: 2:55, 165 miles
• Directions:
  • R out of parking onto BRP and go 12.2
  • R on Parkway exit
  • R on US-23 South and go 13
  • Exit R to US-441 S and go 20
  • Exit R to US-441 S (again) and go 73
  • Follow I-985 to I-85 to I-285

Trail Guide

• Duration: 0.6 miles. 0:25 up, 0:20 down (Not hurrying. I can make it down in 0:15 if running.)
• Navigation
  • Trail begins as paved path on the near end (back toward the overlook) of parking.
  • At 0.2, bear R for shortest path to summit. Summit is past post #13. Sign at summit.
• Trailhead altitude: 6025
• Summit altitude: 6410
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Grid Square: EM85mi
  • Trailhead: 35.36005, -82.98707
  • Summit: 35.36750, -82.99030

Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree: Yes. Guy mast: Yes. I bungeed my mast to the at-summit sign.
• Spotting: No AT&T Cell 2019; good APRS 2019.