I awoke to the light patter of rain on the tree leaves above, and the tent's rain fly. I sat up and checked on the children to who the rain seemed to lull into an even deeper sleep. As I lay back down and nestle back into my sleeping bag I think to myself how this is camping at its finest. The drive up to Balsam Mountain campground is deeply invigorating as you roll the windows down, and feel the rush of cool air. You are surrounded by lush, almost tropical, foliage that creates an endless canopy of green. The vistas you encounter are very picturesque with deep blue mountains forming different layers between the foreground and background.
Balsam Mountain Campground is located within the Great Smokies National Park boundaries. I believe it to be the campground(other than Mile High-haven't visited this one yet) with the highest elevation within the park at 5,310 ft above sea level. We have camped at this gem among campgrounds 3 times now. The trip I shall write about was in July of 2009.
Upon arriving at the campground, we first picked out a lovely site that had mixed shade and sun and paid for our campsite ($17 in an envelope dropped in a box with your site #). We then set up camp and assumed a comfortable position all bunched up in our Eagle Nest Outfitter's hammock. Bug spray is a must at this campground, as the gnats were huge and voracious. We took a stroll around the campground to gather our bearings and to find out about any trails close by. We met the campground host as he was setting up his camper for the season. He was genuinely a nice guy and offered all the information we needed about area trails.
Later that afternoon we drove a short distance to Flat Creek Trail and hiked a short distance to a stream, where we let the kids splash and play. The trails are limited, but that isn't why we visited Balsam Mountain. Our visit was for the cooler temperatures; in July where it's 90 F in Asheville, Balsam Mountain hits the low 70s most days.
Evening rolled around and we had our classic camp meal of vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It was necessary to replenish our bug spray coatings as dark was approaching. We saw other campers quickly leaving and inquired. One gentleman replied "They're off to see the evening's entertainment, the sunset". We too, quickly loaded up and were off up the road a ways to a summit where the road turns to gravel. We parked in this area and walked a short distance to a clearing that had a bench and settled in for a dazzling sunset. It was slightly cloudy, but this only created a better sunset by creating beams of sunlight that burst forth through the clouds. The sunset is worth visiting the site and is very beautiful.
We returned to camp at dark and got a camp fire going. This is the magic moment in camping, and atop Balsam Mountain it was most certainly extra special. The sounds of crickets, a light breeze, and other campers lightly humming in the distance create the picture. Me and my family huddled around the fire to get a little warmer and make smores, which is an excellent bedtime snack. Each of the children settled into each parents arms and began the losing battle with the sandman. My wife and I, found ourselves ready for bed as soon as the children drifted. We carried the children to their sleeping bags and then laid down ourselves gently acknowledging how peaceful and cool it was.
I have since visited Balsam Mountain campground several times. This wonderful campground is small, peaceful, and well kept. There are sinks with running water to wash dishes and there are toilets. I advise anyone planning to visit to bring bug spray and have means to escape the gnats(they're large and love little children especially). Be prepared for rain; you are in Smokies where substantial rainfall occurs. Also, consider the temperatures are much cooler than what you would expect sometimes. Balsam Mountain is one of my favorite campgrounds and I cherish all the memories.
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