1957 Map of Rainbow Springs

About this map

Rainbow Springs sits at the heart of this mountain landscape, positioned along the winding Nantahala River within the vast Nantahala National Forest. The map documents a rugged interior geography where high peaks like Courthouse Bald and Kimsey Bald overlook a complex network of ridges and deep water gaps. Human presence is marked by high-altitude crossings and industrial remnants, such as a dismantled railroad tracing the river valley and a lookout tower on a prominent summit. Notable terrain features like Crawford Flats and Grassy Gap provide specific points of reference for those studying the early 20th-century topography of the Macon and Clay County border. The Appalachian Trail snakes through the high country, connecting remote gaps like Deep Gap and Sassafras Gap as it traverses the divide.