Balsam-A campground
Balsam-A
Reservations are accepted at Balsam, allowing campers to secure their preferred camping spot ahead of time. This ensures a stress-free experience, especially during peak seasons when the campground tends to get crowded. It is advisable to make reservations in advance to guarantee availability.
The best time to visit Balsam is during the spring and fall seasons when the weather is mild and pleasant. The campground offers beautiful trails for hiking, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the area. Campers should be cautious of ticks and mosquitos, especially during the warmer months. It is recommended to apply insect repellent and check for ticks after spending time outdoors. Overall, Balsam provides a serene and well-equipped camping experience for nature enthusiasts in Illinois.
What's on-site at Balsam-A
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Balsam-A -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Branch Ontonagon R At Cisco Lake Outlet | 60 cfs | → |
| Bond Falls Canal Near Paulding | 91 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Ontonagon River Near Paulding | 191 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek Site 3 Near Boulder Junction | 4 cfs | → |
| Stevenson Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 2 cfs | → |
| North Creek @ Trout Lake Nr Boulder Junction | 3 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Balsam-A -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watersmeet 12wsw | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Land O Lakes | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Land O' Lakes 11.7 W | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Paulding | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Lac Vieux Desert | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Boulder Junction 1.4 Ne | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Reimers Island
- Wilderness Sylvania
- National Wild And Scenic River Paint, Michigan
- Lake Gogebic State Park
- Wilderness Blackjack Springs
- State Forest Northern Highland
Boat launches
- Clearwater Road Watersmeet Township
- Black Oak Lake -- Boat Launch - Cth B Nr George Lk
- Black Bear Road Watersmeet Township
- North Forest Lake Road 6353, Town Of Land O' Lakes
- Big Lake -- Ramp
- Us 45 Watersmeet
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch, Mi State Highway 28 To Cascade Falls
- South Branch,Confluence Of Cisco Branch And Tenmile Creek To Confluence With West Branch
- North Branch--Butternut Lake To Confluence With Main Branch
- Private Bridge To Highway 55
- Forest Road 2174 To Private Bridge
- Main Branch--Headwaters To Forest Road 2174
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Balsam-A as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Balsam-A
Can I make reservations at Balsam-A?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Balsam-A?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.