Archived Outdoors

Black Balsam Road reopens

Black Balsam Road is now open, restoring access to a popular trailhead and jumping off point for the Shining Rock Wilderness in Haywood County.

The road, which branches off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 420 and is the starting point for a number of popular hikes, had been closed since Sept. 2 for resurfacing. Hikers used to the potholed access that used to be there now have a much smoother ride toward the any of the many trails branching off from the area. 

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