Balsam Lake Lodge
Balsam Lake Lodge is nestled in the center of the 39,000-acre Roy Taylor Forest within the Nantahala National Forest. The lodge overlooks Balsam Lake and offers spectacular mountain views. The lodge opened its doors to the public when the Forest Service acquired the dwelling and lake in 1982. Since then groups have rented the lodge for meetings, recreation and environmental activities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | Full | Yes / Yes | 16 / 6 | No | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | $170 per night. A $30 fee for each Friday and Saturday night booked. |
| Accessibility | Site 001 is listed accessible |
The lodge's amenities include 16 twin beds (some bunks). There are no linens, towels, and pillows available. The lodge has an accessible kitchen with all utensils and appliances, outside grills, 3 bathrooms with flush toilets, toilet paper provided, one roll-in wheelchair shower, firewood provided, fireplace, gas heat and an available landline phone for emergencies. The lodge has electricity. There is no cell phone service within 5 miles of the location. No wifi available. The lodge provides cleaning supplies for guests to clean the entire lodge after their stay for the next guests. None motorized boats only. Boats/ kayaks are not provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Asheville, North Carolina, take I-40 west to exit 27. Go west on U.S. 23/74 to Waynesville and take exit 102. Take U.S. 276 south and turn right on NC 215 south. Take SR 1756 (Charley's Creek Road). Go 5 miles to the Balsam Lake Lodge (located on the left at Forest Service sign/gate).
| Nearest town | Tuckasegee, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.2675° N, 83.0194° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Balsam Lake Lodge is not a campground and has no campsites available for sewer, water, or electrical hook ups.
Charges and cancellations
$170 per night sunday through Thursday. $200 per night friday and saturday.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Highland Hiker ↗ | 11.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 16.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 29.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Visitors to Balsam Lake Lodge can explore the rest of the Nantahala National Forest, which is especially known for its spectacular waterfalls. This includes Whitewater Falls, the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains.
- 10.6 miMoss Knob Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 2.8 miRobinson ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miMalonee0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miWolf Creek ↗0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3 miWolf Creek Gorge0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.3 miBearpen Gap0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miTurkey Knob1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 4.6 miMiddle Prong Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 7,482 acres
- 8.7 miShining Rock Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 18,477 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Judaculla RockSite · Cullowhee · 5.7 mi
- Joyner BuildingBuilding · Cullowhee · 9.4 mi
- St. David's-in-the-Valley Episcopal ChurchBuilding · Cullowhee · 9.5 mi
Natural features
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Balsam Lake Lodge offers a haven in the Nantahala National Forest. This mountain getaway can be reserved for weekends and weekdays from early April through late November. Reservations will be open from early April through late November. A dense forest of mixed deciduous and conifer trees hugs the shoreline of this tranquil lake.
Recreation
Near the 8-acre lake are three short hiking trails, several fishing piers and a picnic area. The Robinson Trail, suitable for wheelchairs, leads to a dock and fishing pier. The Malonee Trail travels approximately a half-mile beside the lake to the day use area. The.3-mile Wolf Creek Trail continues beside a stream. Anglers can fish for trout in Balsam Lake. It's also open to non-motorized boating.
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Balsam Lake Lodge?
Sites at Balsam Lake Lodge are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Balsam Lake Lodge?
$170 per night. A $30 fee for each Friday and Saturday night booked.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Balsam Lake Lodge?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Balsam Lake Lodge have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Does Balsam Lake Lodge have hookups?
Yes, water and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Balsam Lake Lodge?
The lodge has an accessible kitchen with all utensils and appliances, outside grills, 3 bathrooms with flush toilets, toilet paper provided, one roll-in wheelchair shower, firewood provided, fireplace, gas heat and an available landline phone for emergencies.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Balsam Lake Lodge?
Site 001 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Balsam Lake Lodge?
Near the 8-acre lake are three short hiking trails, several fishing piers and a picnic area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Balsam Lake Lodge?
Tuckasegee, North Carolina. Visitors to Balsam Lake Lodge can explore the rest of the Nantahala National Forest, which is especially known for its spectacular waterfalls.
Source: Getting there
What if Balsam Lake Lodge is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sunburst (8.6 mi), Cove Creek Group Campground (11.5 mi), and Cove Creek Upper Group Camp (11.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby