Loading map...

2011 Map of Big Ridge

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Big Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Indian Place and the settlement of Big Ridge anchor this mountain landscape, defined by a complex network of high-elevation reservoirs and peaks. The drainage of the West Fork Tuckasegee River is managed through several significant impoundments, including Bear Creek Lake, Wolf Creek Lake, and Tuckasegee Lake. These waters are controlled by structures like the Bear Creek Dam, which transformed the local topography into a series of interconnected water bodies such as Cedar Cliff Lake and Tanasee Creek Lake.

The terrain is densely named with family landmarks and descriptive peaks, from Beetree Knob and Lizzie Mountain to the curious The Dismal and Bonas Defeat. Navigation through this Jackson County terrain is marked by traditional crossings like Island Ford and geological features such as Schoolhouse Falls and Maidenhair Falls. The mapping of these ridges and gaps, including Sandy Gap and Shook Cove, reveals a landscape where road systems like State Rd 1184 follow the winding contours of the Blue Ridge.