View: ♦ ♦ /5
Trails: None
Picnic Tables: None
The Richland Balsam Overlook marks the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,053 feet. On a nice day the parking lot is bound to be crowded with people who want to get their photo taken with the sign. This place gets fogged in a lot—only on my fourth trip up the Parkway did I arrive when the sun was shining.
As for the view, it is mostly overgrown with spruce and fir trees, and only the tops of the mountains are still visible. There is no depth to what remains, for the mountains run parallel to the overlook and appear as nothing more than mundane cardboard cutouts. There are no trails or picnic tables at this stop, so other than being able to claim you were at the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, there’s not much to do here.
Next Stop South | Next Stop North | Scenic Overlooks
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Last updated on December 5, 2023