2022 Map of Bald Creek

About this map

Cane River defines the drainage of this mountain landscape in western North Carolina, where the Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds along the high ridges of the Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest. Small communities and family settlements are concentrated in the narrow valleys, connected by roads such as Possum Trot Rd and Lickskillet Rd. The map documents numerous local landmarks, including the curiously named Possumtrot and several long-established burial grounds like Elk Shoal Cem and Edwards Cem. From the heights of Bald Mountain and Sampson Peak down to the creek-side crossings at Bee Log and Swiss, the map illustrates a traditional Appalachian settlement pattern where geography dictates the layout of both transport and social life.