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Richland Balsam Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 81 Google reviews · Running trail in Waynesville, North Carolina · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Richland Balsam Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Short trail popular for hiking and overlooking the surrounding mountains.
What runners say about Richland Balsam Trail
“Not much of a view from the top but there are several places along the trail where you can get some beautiful views.”
“Has a bit of elevation rise to the summit but fairly easy hike overall.”
Trail is great! A few tips we wish we knew when we set out: 1. You probably won’t find this spot unless you have the location set in your GPS. There is no signage indicating this is the trail. Just a tiny symbol of a hiker with a walking stick. 2. There are around 22 trail markers that are numbered.
This was an amazing trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway that was the perfect closeout to our week of hiking. The trail is only about a mile and a half loop but was an absolutely gorgeous hike through some pines. There are plenty of markers along the way and several benches for breaks should you need them.
Great short hike. Stunning views at sunset. I took the loop route to the right. I’m happy I did because it was very rocky coming down and going up would have been interesting.
Really pretty trail hike through a balsam fir forest. The trail itself is very well kept and marked. moderate difficulty. There are a few parts where you have to navigate some rocks and roots but it's nothing too hazardous. The highest point on the trail is 6,400ft and marked with a sign.
Trail conditions & character
“There is unfortunately no easy way to get a good view of the surrounding mountains through all of the trees, but it's still a great walk in the woods.”
“The hike could take up to an hour depending on how fast you are walking and completing the entire loop.”
“There are a few parts where you have to navigate some rocks and roots but it's nothing too hazardous.”
“My friend brought his three year old daughter who loved it, a fair warning parts of the trail can be challenging because of the steep uneven walkway.”
“There are plenty of markers along the way and several benches for breaks should you need them.”
“As others have noted, the best view of the mountains is from the parking lot, but the walk through the forest is beautiful in its own way.”
Plan your run at Richland Balsam Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(828) 348-3400
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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