There are also information signs both along a rock wall near the base of the tower and on the second floor of the tower, each telling further historical and interpretive facts. On a clear day, you can see north to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and south into the rolling hills of Georgia. Parking. Wayah Bald is between Nantahala Lake and Franklin. Fishing, Waterfalls & Camping; Appalachian Trail intersects Wayah Road at Wayah Gap; Curves make motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts happy ; The Local Scoop. Wayah Bald via Appalachian Trail is a 8.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Topton, North Carolina that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. Guidebook For This Area: Trail Map For This Area: MORE DETAILS. Wilson Lick Ranger Station. Saved by RomanticAsheville.com Guide. View Wayah Bald Image Gallery - 21 Images. If you come from Winding Stair Gap, the hike poses more of a challenge, as you’ll log almost 2,000 feet in elevation. In 1913, the first ranger station of the Nantahala National Forest was built on Wayah Bald. When built in 1937, Wayah Bald Fire Tower had an interior stairway to the second story, where an external wooden catwalk encircled a public observation level enclosed by 12 windows. Forest Service Road 69, which runs from Wayah Road to the Bald, is closed January-March. There is a large kiosk located halfway up the paved path between the parking area and summit, with several information signs explaining the history of Wayah Bald. This section of the AT begins at Winding Stair Gap where the trail leaves US 64. The AT continues on right by the tower after you've had your fill of the crowds and views. Read about the history of forestry and see the historic structures. More fine Southern Appalachian views from the summit of Siler Bald. Bigtrout. Fred Jones remembers coming here his whole life. This is a good place to call it a day and settle in for the night. Many hikers opt to start at Wayah Gap, hike to Siler Bald, then hike to Wayah Gap for a 13-mile day. This is the highest point on the entire Bartram Trail and there are a few campsites in this area for overnight camping. Continue another 3 miles to Wayah Bald which provides a beautiful view of Franklin. Appalachian Trail - Wayah Bald is a 14 km blue singletrack trail located near Franklin North Carolina. At 2.1 miles the trail passes 4383 foot Panther Gap. To the southeast you can make out Albert Mountain, complete with observatory tower on top, and to the south is Standing Indian Mountain. Wesser Bald Lookout Tower is located north on the Appalachian Trail, and it can be accessed by a four-mile round-trip hike. Then, in 1983, a hemlock-beam and cedar-shake roof was added to the second level, which is how the tower appears to this day. A full night’s rest on a warm bed did me good. From Franklin, NC:1) Drive west along US-64 for 4.0 miles from the HWY 23/441 intersection.2) Turn right on Old Murphy Road. 5,385 feet) an attraction that shouldn’t be missed. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) is a 2,174-mile footpath along the ridgecrests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. The signs on the second floor of the tower also depict which mountains can be seen from that vantage point on a clear day. Flamingo, Cocoa and Bill (now named Locks) showed up and I was so glad to see them. Wayah Bald, Nantahala National Forest Several publications call Wayah Bald (elev. Feb 24, 2016 - Hike the Appalachian Trail to Siler Bald near Franklin, NC, and score some exceptional, 360-degree views from a sun-drenched, grassy summit. Although the climb was arduous, the payoff left me speechless. Thanks. Getting There & Route Information. Filmed with a GoPro HERO4 (February 2016). Hard evidence of Native Americans using the peak as hunting grounds dates back to 300 BC, although several 11,000-year old spearheads have been found on the mountain's slopes.With a great vantage point of surrounding areas, including views towards three States (North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia), the summit of Wayah Bald has been a historically significant viewpoint for many years. October 15, 2019, … All Rights Reserved. Anyone know any campgrounds in the Wayah Bald area of western NC. 5,385 feet) an attraction that shouldn’t be missed. Bird are abundant throughout the mountain slopes. BT. WHITESIDE MOUNTAIN Open all year. In the 1930s, the historic Wayah Bald Fire Tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Go 9 miles, turn right onto unpaved National Forest Road 69, at the top of the ridge at the Appalachian Trail crossing, and go 4.3 miles to the end. Mammals include deer, black bear, cougar, wild boar, coyote, and groundhog. There is an abandoned park ranger tower at the top, with a great view of the valley below. Franklin/Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald Shelter. The section ends at Wayah Bald which has a firetower with excellent views. Looking up the slopes from the base of Siler Bald. Why? Met a shuttle driver named Ron in the Telico Gap parking lot who gave us a recommendation for a shuttle driver in the Wayah Bald area named Beverly. I look forward waking in the morning and watching the sun rise. The trail starts from Wayah Gap, an unassuming spot that is easy to miss. On a clear day, like shown in the pictures, you can see to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and even into Georgia. Looking up the slopes from the base of Siler Bald. Since this jewel of small town America offers so much to do, it's one of our top... Find and explore the historic fire lookout towers that still remain in the North Carolina mountains. You can hike to the tower three different ways, and the hike described here is the longest and toughest approach. Wayah Bald Lookout Tower, North Carolina. Camping; Hiking . In addition, the historically significant but no longer used Wilson Lick Ranger Station resides along FR-69 southwest of the Wayah Bald summit. The bald is especially beautiful in May and June when the rhododendron, azaleas, and other wildflowers bloom. Filmed with a GoPro HERO4 (February 2016). Jan 9, 2017 - Wayah Bald : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering Two long-distance trails, the Appalachian Trail and the Bartram Trail, cross at the tower. From Wayah Gap, the hike is more family-friendly and geared toward novice hikers. Ron picked Heisenberg and I up at the inn in his white Cadillac around 9:30 and drove us back to the gap. Saved by RomanticAsheville.com Guide. Camping areas are found along the Appalachian Trail within one mile of the Wayah Bald summit, to the southwest. By the mid-1940s, cracks began to develop in the stone tower, allowing water in and damage to begin. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Our towels are great. Generations have come to this spot before a cabin was built by the Jones family in 1939. and offers amazing views from an elevation of 5,342 feet. Location. I was disappointed in my injury but I wasn’t upset. Late October is a good time to visit and see the colorful… The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. Wayah Bald, near Franklin, is a popular destination for hikers, especially in the early summer when rhododendron and azalea are in bloom. Food, water and mail were delivered weekly by the nearby CCC camp. A large clearing starting from Snowbird Gap and going all the way up to Siler Bald provides some of the best views on the North Carolina section of the AT. Blue Ridge Parkway; Waterfalls ; Lake Powhatan Campground. Woke up early and made good time getting down into Telico Gap. Sitting on top of Wayah Bald lookout tower, I reminisced about the previous times I'd been there.The first time was when I hiked my first 20 mile day.The second was on a winter AT backpacking trip with friends. Explore Mimi L's magazine "Rv camping", followed by 3676 people on Flipboard. These amenities allowed uninterrupted lookout service for up to two months at a time. I did not so I decided to camp at the closest shelter. We got to Wayah Gap at 6.45 pm. This past weekend, we camped at Lake Powhatan which is located in the Bent Creek area in the Pisgah National Forest. You'll see the burned trees at the summit, but the entire drive up the mountain is very green! The trail passes by a campsite at 0.9 miles and reaches 4100 foot Swinging Lick Gap at 1.2 miles. See more stories about Pacific Northwest, U.S. National Parks, Parks Canada. Shortly after leaving Wayah Bald you arrive at Wayah Shelter. Evidence of Indian use of the bald as hunting grounds dates back to 300 BC. See more Nantahala Forest updates. You’ll begin the hike at the Nantahala Outdoor Center on U.S. 19/74 at the lower end of the Nantahala Gorge. (8). Wayah Bald This peak is just over a mile high and can be accessed via two routes: the Appalachian Trail or via paved Wayah Road and then about 3+ miles of graveled forest service road. The trail passes by a campsite at 0.9 miles and reaches 4100 foot Swinging Lick Gap at 1.2 miles. Jan 9, 2017 - Wayah Bald : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering If you have never done backpacking, this trip is a perfect trip for you. No special permits are required for visiting Wayah Bald.No entrance/ admission fees. 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