Fishhawks Wild Area
updated 10/25/07
  Fishhawks map

The Bartram Trail runs through the Fishhawk Mountains.  See Bartram Trail Conference

Location: Macon County, W of Cashiers, NC

Access:  From Highlands, take US 64 and turn left on Cty 1620 just W of Van Hook Glade Campground. After approx. 1 mile go right on Cty 1678 for about 1.5 miles and turn left on FS 4522 to Jones Gap at Bartram Trail.

USGS Topographic Quadrangles:  Scaly Mountain.  An excellent Trail Guide with detailed maps has been published by John R. Ray and Malcolm K. Skove (1190 Old Seneca Road, Central, SC, 29630, or email:  jrrarah@mindspring.com).  The Bartram Trail Society (Rt. 3, Box 406, Sylva, NC, 28779) has also published convenient map/brochures on the North Carolina part of the trail.

Features/Description/Potential:  The main trail (the Bartram Trail) runs along a ridge with elevations to 4700 ft., which affords scenic vistas from several rocky vantage points, particularly Jones Knob, Whiterock Mt. and Cedar Cliff Ridge. 100+ yr stands are reported by FS along most of the ridge followed by the trail, and on Tater Knob to the N.  Turkey habitat.  The trees along Cedar Cliff Ridge are particularly impressive.  The road (FS 4522) to Jones Knob has been improved fairly recently, and cuts made along it.  The rare spotted nodding mandarin grows near the Bartram Trail.  The Trillium displays in early spring at Jones Gap are magnificent.


 
Whiterock Mt, seen from Jones Knob
Doubletop with Cedar Cliff Ridge on right, 
Tesentee Valley beyond

 
Big trees on Cedar Cliff Ridge

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