2013 Map of Thunderhead Mountain

About this map

Tremont sits at the northern edge of this high-elevation landscape where the Middle Prong Little River and its various prongs carve deep drainage patterns through the Great Smoky Mountains. The terrain is defined by prominent ridges and gaps that served as critical navigation points for early travelers, including Bote Mountain and Hickory Tree Gap. Hikers and researchers can identify the specific placement of the Derrick Knob Shelter along the high crests near Big Chestnut Bald. The naming conventions found throughout the sheet, such as Upper Chestnut Flats and Lower Chestnut Flats, suggest the historical vegetation patterns before the chestnut blight significantly altered the forest composition. The network of waterways, from the W Prong Little River to the small tributaries like Doghobble Br, illustrates a watershed largely shaped by the steep vertical relief and the presence of numerous named balds and gaps.