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2017 Map of Hightower Bald

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Hightower Bald
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Tallulah River corridor defines the high-altitude landscape of this 2017 survey, flowing southward through the valley floor near the remote settlement of Tate City. Positioned along the border between Georgia and North Carolina, the area is dominated by the steep, forested slopes of the Nantahala National Forest and the Chattahoochee National Forest. This terrain serves as a significant hydrological and geographical crossroads, marked by the Tennessee Valley Divide and the towering peak of Hightower Bald.

Hikers and local historians can trace the meandering path of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as it traverses ridges from Hightower Gap through Bly Gap. To the southeast, the terrain softens slightly as the waters of Persimmon Creek head toward the northern reaches of Lake Burton. The map records numerous family-named landmarks and gaps, such as Cowart Gap, Coffee Gap, and Plumorchard Gap, which reflect the historic transit routes through these formidable Blue Ridge peaks.