| Great Balsam Mountains | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Great Balsam Mountains as seen from theBlue Ridge Parkway | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Richland Balsam |
| Elevation | 6,410 ft (1,950 m) |
| Coordinates | 35°22′N82°59′W / 35.367°N 82.983°W /35.367; -82.983 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 21 mi (34 km) |
| Width | 18 mi (29 km) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Parent range | Appalachian Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Rock type | gneiss |
TheGreat Balsam Mountains, orBalsam Mountains, are in themountain region of westernNorth Carolina, United States.[1][2] The Great Balsams are a subrange of theBlue Ridge Mountains, which in turn are a part of theAppalachian Mountains. The most famous peak in the Great Balsam range isCold Mountain, which is the centerpiece of authorCharles Frazier's bestselling novelCold Mountain. Other notable peaks includeRichland Balsam, which is the highest peak in the range,Black Balsam Knob, andMount Pisgah.
The crest of the range is known as the Pisgah Ridge, and for the majority of its length forms the border betweenHaywood County to the north,Jackson County to the southwest, andTransylvania County to the southeast. The far eastern part of the range forms the border betweenBuncombe andHenderson Counties. Several towns are located in the valleys surrounding the range, includingBrevard,Cullowhee,Waynesville,Canton, and the southwest suburbs ofAsheville.
TheBlue Ridge Parkway runs along its length and at Richland Balsam (milepost 431), the Parkway is at its highest point (6053 feet). Large portions of the range are part ofPisgah orNantahala National Forest, making the area popular for recreation. TheMiddle Prong andShining Rock Wildernesses are located in the center of the range and are both part of Pisgah National Forest. Several waterfalls are located in the range, such asLooking Glass Falls,Moore Cove Falls, and the waterfalls ofGraveyard Fields.
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("Mountain heights".Peakbagger.com.)
The area consists of a transition forest between thesouthern Appalachian spruce–fir forest (which resembles forest types found at northern latitudes) and the mixed deciduous forests of temperate America.[4]
The following trees are at higher elevations:
