1976 Map of Bunches Bald

About this map

Bunches Bald and the surrounding heights of the Great Smoky Mountains are shown here as they appeared in the mid-1970s through this orthophotoquad. Produced in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the imagery documents a landscape defined by steep, timbered ridges and narrow watercourses. The drainage patterns of Straight Fork and Raven Fork are visible as they cut through the terrain below Balsam Mountain and Cataloochee Balsam. Significant topographical landmarks such as Chiltoskie Ridge and Chesnut Ridge provide clear evidence of the area's geological character. This map serves as a photographic record of the high-elevation forest and topography before later decades of environmental change, capturing the specific state of Spruce Mountain and Barnett Knob during a 1976 aerial survey.