Region
Most climbed route
Highlights
- The exact height of Balsam has not been determined. Its elevation is usually given as 3600 feet, the height of its highest contour.
- Balsam is one of four peaks which must be climbed twice, at least once in winter, for membership in the Catskill 3500 Club.
- The McKenley Hollow trail from the southeast to Balsam has the steepest stretch of trail on any ascent of a Catskill High Peak.
Routes
/-74.4881498635953,42.0907699665609,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
14 summits • 6.0 mi • 1,856 ft gain • 3 hr 12 min
/-74.4881498635953,42.0907699665609,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
4 summits • 5.5 mi • 11,046 ft gain • 4 hr 38 min
/-74.4881498635953,42.0907699665609,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
2 summits • 9.7 mi • 2,734 ft gain • 5 hr 3 min
/-74.4881498635953,42.0907699665609,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 10.1 mi • 2,549 ft gain • 4 hr 46 min
/-74.4881498635953,42.0907699665609,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 14.5 mi • 3,237 ft gain • 5 hr 23 min
Latest summits
"T-boned Eagle and Balsam from McKenley Hollow. Five days ago I was in 6-8 “ of snow on Panther fortunately today it was all gone and the wildflowers, trout lily and red trillium, are popping back up. Didn’t see a soul all day. Brought the silky saw and did some needed maintenance. Blue sky and sun led to stripping down to shorts, boots were overkill should have worn the trail runners.
" — Nimblefoot • Apr 25, 2022

"A nice solo hike with micro spikes on a mild March day. Took off my jacket! Took yellow to blue trail with no sketchy sections. Got to see lookout. Light dusting of snow on the trail. Saw no one. A bluebird day with bright sun! " — lfrancois • Mar 2, 2022

"A great chilly and sunny day. I shot up here after Eagle. Snowshoes were awesome! Slight hills up to level stretches. No ice or sketchy places. .8 miles in 20 minutes! Met Nancy on the way down. " — lfrancois • Jan 27, 2022
"Joined Richard, Susan, Barbara, Sherri and Mimi for a loop of Eagle, Haynes and Balsam. A nice sunny day with temps barely in the double digits and occasional strong winds that gave us rosy cheeks. Whacked to Eagle right out of the gate from McKenley then trails for the rest of the trip. Met a woman out by herself near the summit of Balsam who was curious about my usual bushwhack route off of Balsam. She promptly headed off from the summit obelisk while we celebrated our final peak with group photos. Miraculously we met her again on the trail just down below the leanto. Since we were back to our cars before 2pm Mimi suggested getting another peak. First it was Panther then Halcott for a shorter onesie. No other takers so it just Mimi and I off to the Rt 42 PA eating our sandwiches on the way. We were able to follow tracks to make it easier and got back before darkness so no headlamps were harmed." — Nimblefoot • Jan 10, 2022
"Warm and cloudy day for a quick loop of Eagle and Balsam with Peter. Managed to do the hike without deploying the micros. The snow cover was beginning to melt away on our descent at noon." — Nimblefoot • Dec 29, 2021
"Loop of Eagle and Balsam from McKenley with Peter, Miyon, Mimi, Barbara and Francine. Bushwhack to Eagle then trails the rest of the way. Early light snow on the ground and trees around 3K." — Nimblefoot • Nov 14, 2021
"Getting some peaks for the month of July. Had a nice chat with Asst. Forest Ranger Jasmina just below the summit of BLM as she was heading down. If I got to the summit five minutes earlier I would’ve had a chance to get into the cab of the fire tower." — Nimblefoot • Jul 15, 2021
"Mimi and I hiked BLM in the AM running into many friends who were on the peak to prep the cabin, fire tower cab and grounds for the upcoming volunteer season starting Memorial Day weekend. For the afternoon I headed over to do Balsam and Eagle out of Rider Hollow while she headed to Windham HP." — Nimblefoot • May 15, 2021
"Nice sunny AM for BLM then the day clouded up for a loop of Eagle and Balsam from Rider Hollow. Didn’t see a sole on the trail all day. More wildflowers including Red Trillium are either flowering or about to flower to provide fresh color." — Nimblefoot • Apr 14, 2021
"Our original plan was South Doubletop but one person couldn’t make it in the last minute so Mimi decided she preferred to do a twosie of Slide then Balsam out of Rider Hollow. Both peaks had hard packed tracks so it was only micro spikes on both peaks, just had to avoid the numerous gopher holes. Surprisingly the snow is almost gone on the lower parts of the O-M and Mine Hollow trails." — Nimblefoot • Mar 15, 2021