Balsam Mountain Campground
Balsam Mountain Campground is a national park campground in North Carolina. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National park campground
- Location
- North Carolina
- Coordinates
- 35.56544, -83.17430
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 828-497-9270
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Balsam Mountain Campground
Overview Balsam Mountain Campground is located in a relatively remote part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities without the crowds which are sometimes common in other parts of the park. Recreation Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks. The Balsam Mountain area features several trails that are less heavily used compared to other areas of the park. The campground offers a short nature trail located beside site 43. The hiker only Flat Creek Trail is a pleasant walk through a hardwood forest. For the adventurous hiker the Hemphill Bald and Rough Fork trails provide a 14-mile loop hike, with outstanding views and old growth trees. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains. Anglers will agree that some of the best trout fishing in the area can be found along the Balsam Mountain and Straight Fork Roads, some of the most remote sections of the park. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it is not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protect
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- NPS · 7.6 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Edisto Gas · 10 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 2 designated routes (6 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam Mountain Campground | National park campground | under 0.1 mi | $30 | — |
| Balsam Mountain Campground | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | $30 | — |
| Spruce Mountain #42 | Free campsite | 2.9 mi | Free | — |
| Caldwell Fork #41 | Free campsite | 3.2 mi | Free | — |
| Indian Creek Campground | Private campground | 3.3 mi | — | — |
| Big Hemlock #40 | Free campsite | 3.5 mi | Free | — |
Open Balsam Mountain Campground in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.