A Family Fun Day Trip To Black Balsam
Black Balsam Knob, outside Brevard, NC, tucked away in Pisgah National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is hands down my favorite place to visit in the eastern U.S. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the country. Back in November, my wife Madi and I decided to wake up the kids around 3 a.m., load them into the truck, and set out for a jam packed day in Western North Carolina. The goal? A full day outside relaxing, soaking in the beauty of the mountains, taking pictures and just spending time together—although, let’s be honest, traveling four hours with kids and breaking all daily routines and doing car naps isn’t always the most relaxing.
View from below the summit of Black Balsam Knob (6,214ft) which is the highest point on the Art Loeb Trail.
We had to start our day as early as we could so we’d maximize our time. This just means very little sleep for Mom and Dad. Once we got into Brevard, I wanted to grab breakfast and stop by the local fly shop before heading up the mountain. I had it in the back of my mind to maybe sneak in some fishing along the Davidson River later in the day, so we’d have to pick up some flies. The Davidson River runs along Hwy 276, which is the curvy mountain road you’ll take from Brevard to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nearly the entire drive, you’re following a beautiful river with great roadside fishing access, so it makes this a perfect place to fish with the family in tow.
The biggest reason for this last-minute trip was that this trip was long overdue—our original weeklong trip had been postponed because of Hurricane Helene and the devastation it left behind in Western North Carolina. Once I read that parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway were reopening, I decided it was time to pack up the family and go for it. We were all in need of some fresh mountain air and time away from the house.
Once we made it to Brevard, we of course made a stop at the fly shop to grab some flies from Davidson River Outfitters, and then—true to form—Madison realized she didn’t bring a sweatshirt. Of course, this meant she got to buy a new one, which I’m pretty sure is her plan on every trip. Once we were geared up, we began heading up the mountain, but we couldn’t pass up a quick stop at Looking Glass Falls. To our surprise, we had the whole place to ourselves, and I am pretty sure you’re more likely to see a bear doing a cannonball into the water below the falls than have no one else visiting at the same time as you. We took our time since no one else was around. I snapped several pictures. Madi and Beau sat back and watched the falls, and Waylon tested his strength by tossing rocks from the stream bed into the river below.
After convincing Waylon to stop chucking rocks, we drove up to the parking area at Black Balsam. The kids were loaded into backpack carriers, snacks were packed, and I sifted through my camera gear like it was a life-or-death decision. I ended up bringing my Minolta X-570 with a 50mm f/2.8 lens and Kodak Gold 200 film because the warm tones are perfect for fall foliage. I also packed a roll of Ektar 100 because it’s unbeatable for those rich reds. Of course, I couldn’t resist bringing my Sony a7IV with a 70-200mm lens, too. Most people might go for a wide lens for landscapes, but I love the compression a telephoto gives, and I can always stitch together shots for panoramas. The setup was heavier than I wanted, since you know, I have a 35-pound toddler on my back too; but hey, sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do in order to take some cool photos.
The hike itself isn’t super long, but parts of it are steep, and the elevation gain can be a killer if you’re not used to it. About a quarter mile in, we came across something that was a bit of a gut punch—the iconic lone Balsam fir tree, the one everyone knows and photographs, had been knocked down by Hurricane Helene. That tree was like a little symbol of the trail, and anyone who frequents that trail knows that tree is a staple of the experience. It’ll be a different hike for now on without it. I am pretty sure most everyone takes a photo each time they pass it because it’s such an icon standing there alone.
We pushed on, taking photos here and there, and eventually reached the first lookout. This is where most people turn around, thinking they’ve hit the summit, not knowing they’ve actually only done the easy part of the hike. But hey, it keeps people off the top and gives you more room to yourself up there. However, we took a little break here at the first lookout, let the kids stretch their legs, and watched Waylon hoard a bag of donuts like his life depended on it. After that, we tackled the final stretch and made it to the top. The 360-degree views from up there are unreal. Madison and Beau laid out on a blanket, soaking it all in, while Waylon ran around munching on an apple, telling everyone who’d listen that he’d climbed the mountain. I spent the time I wasn’t chasing Waylon taking photos because, for me, that’s how I unwind. There’s nothing like getting a perfect shot, especially at a place as beautiful as Black Balsam.
Above is a mixture of film and digital images captured from the first lookout through our journey to the top of Black Balsam Knob.
Once we’d run out of snacks and the kids were worn down, we made our way back down the mountain. Back at the truck, we threw together a quick tailgate lunch before heading down to Waynesville to visit a friend at the Tuckasegee River Fly Shop. On the way down the mountain, we made another quick stop. We pulled off at the Looking Glass Rock overlook. This is where I captured some of my favorite images of the day and certainly I believe my favorite 35mm film image of the day. The view here is amazing and it’s wild that it still looks so big even from nearly 2.5 miles away.
If you’re not familiar with Looking Glass Rock, it’s a pretty wild geological formation that lies in the heart of the Blue Ridge. It rises 3,969 feet in Pisgah National Forest and was formed over 390 million years ago. Known as a “pluton,” it’s a massive dome of granite that cooled underground instead of erupting as a volcano. Its name comes from its unique ability to reflect sunlight like a mirror after rain freezes on its surface. I still have only ever seen it from afar, even though I have driven past the trailhead to hike to the top numerous times. It’s certainly one location that I will eventually hike, and if I were to ever get into rock climbing again, I would love to climb it.
Looking Glass Rock seen from Looking Glass Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Shots of Looking Glass Rock on Minolta X-570 with Kodak Gold 200
After wandering around downtown Waynesville and a quick Chick-fil-A dinner, we made one last stop for sunset at Waterrock Knob Overlook. This spot is always busy at golden hour, and for good reason. It’s got everything—tons of parking, bathrooms, a big field for the kids to run around, and one of the best sunset views on the Blue Ridge Parkway that’s easily accessible without doing a long hike. It makes this location great for parents of young children like us or people who are unable to hike longer distances for sunset views. Once the sunset begins, the western side of the parking lot will fill with people and their chairs ready to relax and watch the beauty of sunset across the Blue Ridge Mountains. While everyone was relaxing, I, of course, was locked onto my cameras. Waylon even broke out his dinosaur camera and took some pretty darn good photos; dad was proud! This scene was where I finally broke out the Ektar 100 film; the red tones it carries are great for the warm sky and bright orange and red fall foliage colors blanketing the mountain side. While we weren’t going to stay for sunset and hoped to get the kids home in time for bedtime, we were quite happy we made the decision to stay.
By the time the sun set, we were all exhausted. The kids passed out in the backseat while Madison and I took turns driving the long road home. Looking back, the trip was definitely a whirlwind, but it was worth it. Day trips are hard with young kids, but sometimes you gotta break the routine and go have some fun. I’d always recommend doing a two-day trip at a minimum; I certainly could have squeezed in my fishing expedition had we done that, but the flies will be waiting for the next trip from the low country up to the mountains. Western North Carolina is one of those places you can’t stay away from for too long.
