2016 Map of Sams Gap

About this map

Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest meet along the high ridges of the Bald Mountains, where the modern corridor of Interstate 26 carves through the landscape at Sams Gap. This 2016 survey documents the rural character of the North Carolina and Tennessee border, a region defined by steep topography and isolated valley settlements like English and Faust. The winding path of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses the summits, crossing from Big Flat toward Street Gap. For family historians, the map is a vital resource for locating upland burial grounds, including Robinson Cem, Shook Cem, and Murray Gap Cem. The presence of Wolf Ridge Airport near Lower Haw Knob highlights how modern infrastructure has been integrated into the traditional mountain terrain of Unicoi and Madison counties.