Black Balsam Camping Trip

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When was the last time anyone went down the road? I did it last year, and it is washed out and the rocks are pretty sharp (almost cut a sidewall) + I got dressed down by a NPS ranger upon exit at the gate. If anyone has been since last fall, let me know.....
 
Last fall I was up there around Labor day, there were several vehicles using the road. There is a sign at the beginning of the road that states "not recommended for vehicular travel" But it does not say not to use it. It is on the map as a road and if the gate is open the road should be open to use at your own risk. I did say in the introduction that this is a rough un-maintained road that requires a high clearance vehicle. What did the ranger say to you?

Chad
 
He said that the road was closed to vehicular traffic due to the wash and pedestrian traffic (you get funny looks from hikers) I asked why the gate was open, and he told me it was for horseback riders. He said to not go up there again, and I didn't argue, thanked him for the warning and not a ticket and went about my merry way. The vehicle I was in was my 3" lifted 60 with 33's and I still pegged my diff at least 4-5 times needing a spotter to get me around it.
 
Sounds like our kinda road to me.

I'd rather ask forgiveness than permission anyway. See what it got us at Cullowhee eh?
b
 
Here is what I know: According to the FS Road Map and the USFS Visitors Center just outside Breveard, Black Balsam Rd (FS 816) is open year round from the BRP to a parking area with a pit toiled where the road ends. I've been told though by several people that the road is only open appx August through end of December. The road is not very long (~1.2 miles) and unmaintained. I'm going to try and check it out tomorrow morning to see if it is open or not. If it is open to the end I'll camp there tomorrow night.

Camping areas are located about 1,000 feet off the road and parking areas which works out well b/c you are supposed to be about 1,000 feet or 1/4 miles off the road or parking area to camp.

From what I've seen on the 'official' FS Map and been told by the Visitor's Center everything is 'Go for Takeoff...' unless I hear otherwise.
 
eventhough said:
Here is what I know: According to the FS Road Map and the USFS Visitors Center just outside Breveard, Black Balsam Rd (FS 816) is open year round from the BRP to a parking area with a pit toiled where the road ends. I've been told though by several people that the road is only open appx August through end of December. The road is not very long (~1.2 miles) and unmaintained. I'm going to try and check it out tomorrow morning to see if it is open or not. If it is open to the end I'll camp there tomorrow night.

Camping areas are located about 1,000 feet off the road and parking areas which works out well b/c you are supposed to be about 1,000 feet or 1/4 miles off the road or parking area to camp.

From what I've seen on the 'official' FS Map and been told by the Visitor's Center everything is 'Go for Takeoff...' unless I hear otherwise.
Click to expand...

Steve, the initial road off the parkway(BlackBalsam rd.) to the pit toilets is open year round; it is Ivestor Gap road which starts where the parking lot/pit toilets are that is opened seasonally.

hope that helps
 
ClemsonCruiser said:
Steve, the initial road off the parkway(BlackBalsam rd.) to the pit toilets is open year round; it is Ivestor Gap road which starts where the parking lot/pit toilets are that is opened seasonally.

hope that helps
Click to expand...

Hmmm - I'm going to have to check it out. I've been told by a couple of parties that the road ends at the pit toilet... :hhmm:
 
We hiked part of it going to Shining Rock. It doesn't open until Aug 15 I think. But I know it was Aug.
 
No it goes on from the toilets, trust me... I drove it last year in the fall, but it is washed out ~ .7-1mi in, cause I had to do an austin powers 88 point turn to get back out. Not to mention the looks from the hikers.
 
Ok, after reading this for a while, I finally know where this is. It's on the parkway above Brevard. This is the only way I've been to shining rock backpacking. The road from parkway is/was paved (sort-of). At the parking lot/toilet there is a gate that I've never seen open, but the "road" does continue. If the gate is open, take it for a ride! It's a short ride though.
 
99UZJay said:
No it goes on from the toilets, trust me... I drove it last year in the fall, but it is washed out ~ .7-1mi in, cause I had to do an austin powers 88 point turn to get back out. Not to mention the looks from the hikers.
Click to expand...


I can't believe it is still washed out..... last time I went up there was fall 2003 and it was washed out from the hurricanes back in 2002 that did all that massive flooding up in the mountains. I would have thought they would have fixed it by now......

regardless of wether or not the gate is open, or the road is washed out that area the Shining Rock wilderness and Black Balsam in paticular is my most favorite area of the BRP
 
I was just there today. The road is now posted "No ATVs" which I have to assume means no trucks too. It is ~ 1 mi or less to some SWEET camping spots we could hike into but groups should be kept to 10 or less. Bridge is still washed out.

Looks like we might have to drop back and punt due to group size and access... stay tuned...
 
Ok guy's and Gal's, here is the latest update.........Same plan only different;p, lets keep the meeting up place the same, the route the same, and plan on tailgating in the black balsam parking lot, and day hiking or just chilling in some lawn chairs and soaking up the high mountain sun with tall cool one:cheers:, there is enough camping space for about 20-30 people within about a minute's walk of the parking lot, there is always a bunch of people up there during the day but after about 5:00pm the place is a ghost town.

(I am still working on clarification on if we can drive the road if the gate is open, so I will post asap when I get that clarification either way)

Chad
 
We will not be camping in the designated wilderness area, we will be on FS land
 
I just got off the phone with the chief of Cruso Fire Department(they are in charge of fire and rescue for the area) and the Pisgah ranger office (Joe) they both said the road is open to vehicular traffic when the gate is unlocked. The no ATV sign means just that, no ATV's you have to have a leagally registered vehicle to drive the road. It IS under the jurisdiction of the Pisgah ranger district and not the NPS.:bounce::steer::bounce:so the 4x4 part of the camping trip is back on!!!!:cheers:
 
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