Balsam Mountains
Conservation
The Balsam Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot and critical wildlife corridor between the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although much of the Southern Appalachian forests have been logged over the last century, the Balsams are home to nearly 3,000 acres of identified old growth forest.
Recreation
Places for outdoor recreation in this area include the Cold Mountain Game Lands, Blue Ridge Parkway, Shining Rock Wilderness, and numerous trails in Pisgah National Forest. Richland Balsam is the site of the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which crosses over the mountain’s southwestern slope at 6,053 feet.
Stewardship
Our conservation efforts in this focus area protect water quality, particularly the Waynesville Watershed and headwaters of the Tuckaseegee River. Our Stewardship team is responsible for monitoring over 8,000 acres here protected by conservation easement!
Stories about the Balsam Mountains
September 18, 2024 Balsam Gap
May 22, 2023 Twelve O’Clock Top – 64 Acres Above Dutch Cove
August 12, 2022Dutch Cove – 157 Acres in Haywood County
We Can't Do It Without You
Together, we can protect Appalachia’s lands and secure a healthier future for generations to come.