Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Black Balsam Knob

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Topo map
  
USGS Shining Rock

Prominence
  
301 m

Parent range
  
Great Balsam Mountains

Elevation
  
1,894 m

Easiest route
  
Hiking

Black Balsam Knob httpswwwromanticashevillecomsitesdefaultfi

Location
  
Haywood County, North Carolina, U.S.

Mountain range
  
Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Balsam Mountains

Similar
  
Shining Rock, Devil's Courthouse, Cold Mountain, Looking Glass Rock, Mount Pisgah

Hiking in north carolina black balsam knob


Black Balsam Knob, also known as Black Balsam Bald, is in the Pisgah National Forest southwest of Asheville, North Carolina, near milepost 420 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Contents

Map of Black Balsam Knob, East Fork, NC 28716, USA

It is the second highest mountain in the Great Balsam Mountains. The Great Balsams are within the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian Mountains. It is the 23rd highest of the 40 mountains in North Carolina over 6000 feet.

The top of the mountain is a grassy bald that affords a panoramic view. The origin of grassy balds in southern Haywood county is a result of extensive clear-cut logging and locomotive fires in 1925 and 1942. These fires burned deep down into the mineral-rich topsoil slowing reforestation or stopping it altogether. Examples of this cannot only be found on Black Balsam knob, but many of its neighboring peaks and ridges. These unique features contribute greatly to the area's popularity, but the heavy amount of foot traffic also does further damage to this already fragile ecosystem. The Art Loeb Trail follows the grassy ridge of Black Balsam Knob.

Visible peaks from Black Balsam Knob include:

  • Shining Rock in the Shining Rock Wilderness (3 miles northeast)
  • Looking Glass Rock (5 miles southeast)
  • Cold Mountain (6 miles north)
  • Mount Pisgah (9.5 miles northeast)
  • Mount Mitchell. On exceptionally clear days, Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the Eastern United States, is visible 45 miles north east.
  • Black balsam knob hike


    References

    Black Balsam Knob Wikipedia