Richland Balsam Overlook is the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6047 feet elevation. Just a half mile North of the overlook at milepost 431 is the Richland Balsam Nature Loop Trail. Starting at an already 6020 feet, I huffed and puffed my way up to a lofty 6410 feet!
The view from where we parked. It doesn't get much more beautiful that.
At 0.15 mile, I came to a fork in the trail with a sign that said "3100 Feet to the Summit."
These numbered posts didn't mean a whole lot to me because I didn't have the self-guiding nature map that corresponded to descriptions of the natural features in a brochure.
The day was mostly rainy with an occasional glimpse of a ray of sunshine. Even on the brightest of days, it would have been a shadowy and cool hike.
Other than the overlook at the beginning, this hike wasn't what I expected. You climb to the highest elevation in the Blue Ridge for no view. This hike was more about trees, moss, fallen and rotting logs. It had a rainforest feel to it.
The return trip was mostly downhill with neatly place rock steps to help you along the way.
We are taking in another Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook on our return trip back to the campsite.
A campfire and a beer at the end of a day of hiking. Life just doesn't get any better that that!
We are taking in another Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook on our return trip back to the campsite.
A campfire and a beer at the end of a day of hiking. Life just doesn't get any better that that!
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