1946 Map of Sam Knob

About this map

The high ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains converge at the intersection of Jackson, Haywood, and Transylvania counties, where the Nantahala National Forest meets the Pisgah National Forest. This 1946 field examination captures the landscape as the Blue Ridge Parkway was being established along the drainage divides, winding past prominent peaks like Richland Balsam and Devils Courthouse. The terrain is defined by a dense network of high-elevation gaps and knobs, including Richland Gap, Beartrail Ridge Gap, and Horsebone Gap, which served as critical passage points through the steep topography of the Balsam Mountains.