Great Balsam Mountains

Great Balsam Mountains
Great Balsam Mountains as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Highest point
Peak	Richland Balsam
Elevation	6,410 ft (1,950 m)
Coordinates	35°22′N 82°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

The Great Balsam Mountains, or Balsam Mountains, are in the mountain region of western North Carolina, United States.^[1][2] The Great Balsams are a subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which in turn are a part of the Appalachian Mountains. The most famous peak in the Great Balsam range is Cold Mountain, which is the centerpiece of author Charles Frazier's bestselling novel Cold Mountain. Other notable peaks include Richland Balsam, which is the highest peak in the range, Black Balsam Knob, and Mount Pisgah.

The crest of the range is known as the Pisgah Ridge, and for the majority of its length forms the border between Haywood County to the north, Jackson County to the southwest, and Transylvania County to the southeast. The far eastern part of the range forms the border between Buncombe and Henderson Counties. Several towns are located in the valleys surrounding the range, including Brevard, Cullowhee, Waynesville, Canton, and the southwest suburbs of Asheville.

The Blue 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 of Pisgah or Nantahala National Forest, making the area popular for recreation. The Middle Prong and Shining 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 as Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls, and the waterfalls of Graveyard Fields.