2022 Map of Cove Creek Gap

About this map

The divide between the Pisgah National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park defines this corner of Haywood County, where steep ridgelines like Hurricane Ridge and Coffee Ridge overlook deeply etched creek beds. The landscape is marked by its early 20th-century isolation, preserved through historical routes such as the Old Cataloochee Turnpike and the Little Cataloochee Trl. Small settlements like Nellie and Ola are situated near watercourses, while numerous family-named burial grounds, including the O E Kerr African Cem and McMahan's Grave, provide significant clues for genealogical research in this mountain region. The presence of the Little Cataloochee Baptist Church and Palmer Chapel suggests the importance of community centers in these secluded valleys. Elevation shifts are extreme, moving from the Pigeon River up to peaks like Buzzard Roost and Mount Sterling, illustrating the difficult terrain that historical residents negotiated daily.