2022 Map of Wayah Bald

About this map

Nantahala National Forest dominates this section of the Blue Ridge, where the Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds across high summits like Siler Bald and Wayah Bald. The landscape is a network of ridges and deep coves, including the Split Whiteoak Ridge and Roaring Fork Ridge, which have long defined the movement of travelers through these highlands. Grounded in the local geography are traces of early habitation and transport, such as Jones Cabin and the site of Wayah Depot. The confluence of the Bartram Trail and the Appalachian Trail near Wayah Gap highlights the area's significance as a crossroads for mountain passage. Small traces of local history remain visible through the Tippet Cem and the settlement at Kyle, providing a record of the families who worked these slopes before the land was further consolidated into federal forest management.