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2022 Map of Sams Gap

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Sams Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds through the high ridges of the Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest, marking the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina. This rugged section of the Blue Ridge is anchored by Sams Gap, where the Old Asheville Hwy historically crossed the mountains. The landscape is defined by steep ridges like Hogback Ridge and Wolfpit Ridge, with small settlements such as Little Creek and Faust situated along the narrow valley floors.

Genealogists will find a high concentration of family burial grounds scattered throughout the coves and hillsides, including Blankenship Cem, Arrington Cem, and Coates Cem. The presence of the Skyline Peak Airport near Lower Haw Knob suggests the modern adaptation of this high-altitude terrain. The drainage patterns of Big Laurel Cr and Ivy River reveal how the physical geography dictated the placement of roads and homesteads in Madison County and Yancey County.