Richland Balsam Trail

Richland Balsam Trail delivers a pleasant, moderately easy loop through a fragrant, moss-covered forest that hikers consistently complete in about an hour. While there's no dramatic summit view—ironically, the best vistas are from the parking lot—visitors love the enchanting woodland atmosphere, with many noting the fresh Christmas-tree scent of the balsam firs at elevation. The trail does have some maintenance issues with overgrowth in sections and uneven, rocky terrain with stairs, but most find it manageable and worthwhile.