Access the Blue Ridge Parkway traveling North to mile 458.2, turning left onto Heintooga Ridge Road. lol, The Balsam Mt Rd was closed/ gated just beyond the Masons Memorial back in June 2013. The lovely picnic area boasts tables, benches, grills and nice pavilion with a fireplace. If you're looking for an escape from the traffic on the more heavily-traveled roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, here's a great option for the fall color season, or for a late spring or summer drive next year: the Balsam Mountain Road. Starting Point: Parking area along Heintooga Ridge Road. Straight Fork will also close on Nov.1 but it should . Photos by Jim Burnett. Danny Bernstein And by hills, I mean Balsam Mountain via Heintooga Ridge Road. We found a website that said this campground has hot showers. Cross from the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park into the Great Smoky National Park, and you will pass Heintooga Overlook. On average it takes 18 minutes to complete this trail. I'm so glad you got to experience it. This one way gravel road provides a secluded and scenic drive as well as access to some of the more remote areas of the park like the Spruce Mountain and Balsam Mountain trailheads. Turn Right on top of mountain towards Blue Ridge Parkway. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches roughly 1,150 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains, to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks of the North Carolina coast. If you have a road bike bring it with you to the Balsam Mountain Campground. To take a road less traveled, drive to Balsam Mountain via the Heintooga Ridge Road that starts at the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 458.2, just 11 miles from the south end of the Parkway. Just past mile marker 459 turn left on Heintooga Rd. Drive an additional 8.9 miles on Heintooga Ridge Road. Just past mile marker 458 turn right on Heintooga Rd. Keep Up with Road Closures Our trip, on a late September Friday, was ahead of the peak fall color season, and we had the road almost entirely to ourselves. I am interested in driving the Heintooga Ridge Road and the one-way Balsam Mountain Road over . Due to the high elevation, this picnic area is open only in warm months. Balsam Mountain Campground is reached via the Blue Ridge Parkway and Heintooga Ridge Road. toward the Masonic Marker . Fee: $17.50 per night Continue 16.7 miles to Pin Oak Gap trailhead/parking. Dates Open: May 15 to October 4, 2020. When the paved final section of this road ends at a "T" intersection, turn left and you'll be on Big Cove Road, which will take you into Cherokee, North Carolina. toward the . For the first four miles you are within the Blue Ridge Parkway . The route is heavily wooded, so although there are a few nice vistas, distant views are often hidden by the vegetation. One of the drives favored by many is the Blue Ridge Parkway to Balsam Mountain Campground Road and along Heintooga Ridge to the Round Bottom Road and Big Cove loop. Check-in is 12:00 noon or later. However, the trailhead for Flat Creek Trail is there, and it is a wonderful hiking trail. From Hwy 19 go south on the BRP. My latest hike in the Smokies took me to three trails spread out along several miles on the Heintooga-Round Bottom Road. It is the highest campground within the GSMNP system and the cooler temperatures attest to that. Use -83.18010658, 35.57309031 and 5326.57861328 feet. Heintooga Ridge Road is accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 458. The 46 campsites are best suited for tent camping, although RVs are welcome. Balsam Mountain Campground requires a reservation which MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE. Accordingly, the Balsam Mountain Trail begins in a northern hardwood forest before moving into a spruce fir forest. Mobile service is extremely limited here, so cell phone use at the campground is unlikely. Road is one-way; exit via Straight Fork Road, and Big Cove Road down toward the Ocanaluftee Visitor Center. Traveling the Heintooga Ridge Road for 9 miles, you'll enter onto Balsam Mountain Road and travel another 8.4 miles to Pin Oak Gap, where the trail begins. I've driven this road many times. Snow and ice make navigating the roads nearly impossible in the winter. Here, enter the gravel, one-way Balsam Mountain Road (also known as Heintooga Round Bottom Road). Nature abhors fast drivers. Work includes Pavement Preservation of 5.34 miles Heintooga . Take the side-trip on Heintooga Ridge Spur Road to the must-see, Mile-High Overlook. From the North: From I-40 take Exit 20 Maggie Valley, NC and travel US-19 towards Cherokee, NC. Copyright 2016-2020 Marc & Ann Bowman | All Rights Reserved | Powered by, 9. Follow Heintooga Road 8.4 miles to the campground entrance road on the left. You may see the initial paved section from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Balsam Mountain Campground described as either the Balsam Mountain Road or the Heintooga Ridge Road. This is a one-way road so once you start there is no turning back. toward the . First, don't wait too long for a fall trip. Following is a quote from the nps.gov website for GSMNP: "Balsam Mountain Campground may be closed until June 17 due to repaving." Does this mean that the road to the campground is also closed or just the campground itself? Balsam Mountain Campground. Tudelum48 , Nov 28, 2010 Balsam Mountain Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: See 30 reviews, articles, and 33 photos of Balsam Mountain Road, ranked No.46 on Tripadvisor among 102 attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No matter what you call it, it's the only road over this route, and it's well worth the drive … if you're willing to take the time to slow down and enjoy it. If you are beginning in Maggie Valley, NC, take Soco Road to the . If you are beginning in Maggie Valley, NC, take Soco Road to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Road is one-way; exit via Straight Fork Road, and Big Cove Road down toward the Ocanaluftee Visitor Center. Go 10.8 miles and turn left on Heintooga Ridge Road which soon becomes Balsam Mountain Road (and turns to gravel). If you're looking for an escape from the traffic on the more heavily-traveled roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, here's a great option for the fall color season, or for a late spring or summer drive next year: the Balsam Mountain Road. Finally, don't let the various names for the road confuse you—or your GPS. Elevation: 5,310’ However, if you drive back down the mountain a short distance, a dish washing station at Balsam Mountain Campground is available. Name: Balsam Mountain Campground 2. Keep in mind that the closest grocery store is in Maggie Valley, about 30-40 minutes away. #2 Heintooga Road in Smoky Mountains National Park . Follow the Parkway north for about ten miles, and take the spur road near milepost 458 at the sign for the Balsam Mountain Campground. Heintooga Ridge Road is a 9 mile less popular dirt/gravel road trail located near Cherokee North Carolina. I believe there is a bridge now? 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The road is closed from late November until mid-March. Beautiful wildflowers and feral rabbits welcome you to the area. Balsam Mountain has a 46-site campground at an elevation of 5,310 feet located less than 10 miles from Cherokee. Most 2 wheel drive . Reservations are for specific camping areas, so make sure you are using the assigned pad, or you will be asked to move. You will arrive at a loop and the picnic area is on the left (or the right if you have made the loop). The unpaved road is in good shape, but you'll want to slow down for some bumpy spots and a few exposed rocks, so this will be a leisurely drive. The road is open for the season only through October 31, and won't reopen until mid-May next year. Meeting Place: Parking area on Heintooga Ridge Rd/Polls Gap. The campground comfort station (restrooms with potable water) is just a little further down Balsam Mountain Campground Road. Additional fees, taxes, or discounts may be applied. We saw several flocks of wild turkeys, enjoyed a serenade by a bugling elk at a pullout, and sampled some early fall color, which should be in fine form right about now. To take a road less traveled, drive to Balsam Mountain via the Heintooga Ridge Road that starts at the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 458.2, just 11 miles from the south end of the Parkway. Finally, don't let the various names for the road confuse you—or your GPS. Directions: From Soco Road in Maggie Valley go south on the Blue Ridge Parkway (towards Great Smoky Mountains National Park) for approximately 2 miles. Turn left on Parkway towards Cherokee. You'll hit the blacktop once the terrain levels out, and then have about 10 miles of pavement back into Cherokee. Looking for it on your GPS? Heintooga Picnic Area does have restrooms and running water, but it does not have electricity or a pavilion. Tennessee Sevier County Gatlinburg, 1968. Before Monument there is a pull-off to the right where we were. There are occasional wide spots where slower vehicles could pull over to let others pass, and those same places offer a spot to stop for a picnic or photo op. The Balsam Mountain Ranger Station is located at the entrance to Balsam Mountain Campground Road. The road is generally open from late May until October. Use the restroom before you go. Name: Heintooga Picnic Area at Balsam Mountain The small parking lot and trailhead will be located on your left. Magnificent trees surround the picnic area and the higher elevation provides opportunities to see birds that live high up in the mountains. Make a left turn at the Balsam Mountain Campground sign and continue until the paved road dead ends just beyond the campground. I describe as as hiking/backpacking the Smokies without sweating. Access the Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap and continue South to mile 458.2, turning right onto Heintooga Ridge Road. Go 9 miles to the end of the road at Heintooga Overlook (past the campground). LOCATION HEINTOOGA NC+TN Established Series DJT-ARK-HCD; Revised BPS 02/2011 HEINTOOGA SERIES The Heintooga series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils on toe slopes, fans and benches in coves at high elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B. The views are spectacular at Mile High Overlook, the sunsets are breathtaking, and the forest setting cannot be beat. According to information on the park website, the first 18 miles of this road are unpaved, and near the end of the gravel stretch, the route follows a lovely mountain stream. • Balsam Mountain Road • Clingmans Dome Road • Deep Creek Access Road and Tom's Branch • Heintooga Ridge Road/Round Bottom Road/ Straight Fork Road • NC Hwy 284 • Twentymile Facilities/Concession Operations • Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob Follow signs toward Balsam Mountain Campground and park at Polls Gap on right. Balsam Mountain Heintooga Ridge Road. If you want a more adventurous drive, consider taking the Parkway to milepost 458.2 and then make the drive to Balsam Mountain via Heintooga Ridge Road. The sign at the beginning of the unpaved section refers to it as the "Heintooga Round Bottom Road.". From Hwy 19 go south on the BRP. At this time, it is closed due to a landslide. Getting to camp involves a drive to the end of Heintooga Ridge Road, a lesser traveled . Some of the sites have bear-proof storage bins allowing for easy access food storage. Keep food inside these bins or inside the trunk of your car. Recreational vehicles up to 30’ in length can use the facility, although there are no pull-offs. From Hwy 441 go north on the BRP. Heintooga Round Bottom Road is 18 miles of gravel road, the first 14 miles is one-way starting on Balsam Mountain Great Smoky Mountains National Park then en. Access the Blue Ridge Parkway at Soco Gap and continue South to mile 458.2, turning right onto Heintooga Ridge Road. To take a road less traveled, drive to Balsam Mountain via the Heintooga Ridge Road that starts at the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 458.2, just 11 miles from the south end of the Parkway. . Traditionally Indigenous Territory. Please note that this is a one-way road and you cannot backtrack the way you came on Balsam Mountain Road. Balsam Mountain Picnic Area is near Heintooga Ridge Road and Flat Creek Trail. Photo, Print, Drawing 1. Heintooga Ridge Road and Balsam Mountain Campground Roads in Swain County, North Carolina begins at the Park boundary at Black Camp Gap (Blue Ridge Parkway boundary) and ends at the Heintooga Overlook and Picnic Area. A scenic drive around the Balsam Mountain Region of Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be formed by driving a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Heintooga Ridge Road, Balsam Mountain Road (aka Heintoga Round Bottom Road), and Big Cove Road.All roads are paved except for Balsam Mountain Road, which is also one-way for a good portion of the drive. Flat Creek Trail can be hiked from a trailhead at a large parking circle at the end of Heintooga Ridge Road, near a lovely picnic area and fewer than 200 yards from the majestic Heintooga Overlook. The trailhead is off the campground entrance road. We weren't in a hurry, stopped often to enjoy the scenery, and took nearly three hours for the trip. The fee for using this campground is $17.50 per night. That forest cover makes this a good drive to spot wildlife; we saw wild turkeys, several grouse and a variety of smaller birds. From the North: From I-40 take Exit 20 Maggie Valley, NC and travel US-19 towards Cherokee, NC. Heintooga Overlook with its two benches and spectacular view. I used to cruise down the road by motorcycle to Cherokee in the 90's and ford the creek at the bottom. Balsam Mountain Road: Heintooga Ridge Road..dust adventure.. - See 30 traveler reviews, 33 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. The picnic area and campground were scheduled to close for the season on October 10, another indication that this area isn't in the mainstream of visitor traffic in the Smokies. (1968) Great Smoky Mountains National Park Roads & Bridges, Heintooga Round Bottom Road & Balsam Mountain Road, Between Blue Ridge Parkway & Big Cove Road, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, TN. (Top photo) The view from a pullout about 2 miles below the picnic area. This one way gravel road provides a secluded and scenic drive as well as access to some of the more remote areas of the park like the Spruce Mountain and Balsam Mountain trailheads. Just a heads up, Balsam Mountain Road and Heintooga Round Bottom Road off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Maggie Valley NC, both close today until mid May 2022.. It rained on us the latter p art of the drive and when we arrived at the campground there was a chill and dampness that would stay with us the entire visit. Next, if you're on a tight schedule and determined to cover as many miles as possible in a day, this isn't the trip for you, so turn around and head back to the Parkway or the main roads in the Smokies. The Heintooga Spur Road, also known as Balsam Mountain Road is a 9-mile paved spur road just 11 miles from the Cherokee entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Three Trails off Heintooga Road-Round Bottom Road. A short distance down the road, Balsam Mountain Nature Trail is a short trail leading to Balsam Mountain Campground. As we eased over to a "pullout" in early afternoon, a barred owl swooped down, perched in a tree only 20 feet away, and watched calmly while we sat in our vehicle and enjoyed a snack. Tennessee Sevier County Gatlinburg, 1968. From Hwy 441 go north on the BRP. Continue 16.7 miles to Pin Oak Gap trailhead/parking. Balsam Mountain Road is a long, one-way, unpaved, mountain road leading over the mountain to Cherokee. The food storage bins are handy since this is a black bear habitat. Just south of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, get on the Blue Ridge Parkway and drive 10.9 miles to Heintooga Ridge Road. This 47 mile mixed . Cherokee is the closest access to Balsam Mountain Road, but it still involves an hour drive from our campground to the Blue Ridge Parkway to Heintooga Ridge Road to Balsam Mountain Road. Just past mile marker 459 turn left on Heintooga Rd. Information on the park website says it takes about an hour to make the trip down the road and back to Cherokee … but you'll need more time if you observe the 15 m.p.h. (Not to be confused with Black Balsam Knob, 38 miles north on the Parkway.) To take a road less traveled, drive to Balsam Mountain via the Heintooga Ridge Road that starts at the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 458.2, just 11 miles from the south end of the Parkway. However, a few of the sites do not have a tent pad. A one-way gravel road, departing from Heintooga Picnic Area, leads to the trailhead at Pin Oak Gap, Balsam Mountain's lowest point inside the park at an elevation just above forty-four . NOTE: Heintooga Ridge Road is a paved surface following the ridge of Balsam Mountain. First, you have to leave the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a few The sign at the beginning of the unpaved section refers to it as the "Heintooga Round Bottom Road." Signs on the parkway show Balsam Mountain . Road Condition: 2-way paved road. Maximum RV Length: 30’. Some claim that Heintooga is the best-developed picnic site in the park. We'll start our high-elevation escape to the woods at a cool 5,300 feet, where the pavement of Heintooga Ridge Road meets the gravel of Balsam Mountain Road for a 5.2-mile round-trip hike on Flat Creek Trail built by the boys of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 as a federal work project during the Great Depression. This is a 45-mile roundtrip th. Back in those days, not many people drove or pulled large campers on . The roadway also provides access to Balsam Mountain Campground. Hours: Closes at 8:00 PM from May 1 – August 31 and at sunset all other days. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway East from Cherokee.
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