2016 Map of Bunches Bald

About this map

The high ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park dominate this terrain where Swain, Haywood, and Jackson Counties converge. The landscape is defined by its massive peaks and gap crossings, including Potato Hill Bald, Heintooga Bald, and Cataloochee Balsam. Significant engineering feats are visible along the southern edge, where the Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the mountains, passing through the Big Witch Tunnel, Bunches Bald Tunnel, and Lickstone Ridge Tunnel. For those researching local history, the McGhee Cem is situated in the northwest, near the waters of Quillaree Br. The map highlights a network of vital access points and trails like Polls Gap and the Balsam Mountain Road, which follow the high ground of Ravens Roost Ridge and Chiltoskie Ridge. Small watercourses such as Straight Fork Raven Fork and Flat Creek Falls drain these steep slopes, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Great Smoky Mountains.