Taken from a 1993 Forest Service map of bear habitat, shown in green. The orange line is the area proposed for protection in The Wilderness Society's "NC Mountain Treasures. Dark gray shows private land. Major trails are shown as dashed lines.

Location:  Macon County, S of Nantahala Gorge and SW end of Cheoah wild area.

Access:  From Wesser, SW on US 19 to left(SE) on Cty 1310, then right(W) on FS Road 308 to intersection with Cty 1401 at Appletree Group Campground.

USGS Topographic Quadrangles:  Topton, Hewitt(N tip)

Features/Description/Potential:
    Bounded on NE by Nantahala River corridor upstream from gorge.  NW boundary parallels US 19 and 129.  SE boundary parallels Dicks Creek and County 1401.  Appletree Group Campground is E, just outside wild area.  The wild area is basically a NE-SW trending ridgeline including (going SW) Piercy Bald at 4400 ft., London Bald at 4500 ft., Hickory Knob at 4480 ft., to the SW boundary of the wild area SE of the main ridgeline at the headwaters of Pine Branch.  FS reports 100+ yr. stands in the Junaluska Gap area near the SW wild area boundary.  Lots of FS trails.  FS trail 19 runs NW from Junaluska Gap to Apple Tree Campground along Dicks Creek, all outside wild area.  FS 19C (blue blazed, called London Bald Trail) splits to N from FS 19 about 1000ft from Junaluska Gap, ascending the main ridge and then contouring on the SE side of it to Sutherland Gap where it meets FS 19E and FS 67(The Bartram Trail) (See John Ray's "Bartram Trail" for the Nantahala National Forest.  Obtain copies from Ray at 1190 Old Seneca Rd, Central, SC, 29630.  email: jrrarah@mindspring.com) which return SE back to Apple Tree Campground.  FS 19A (red blazed) climbs to FS 19C below Hickory Knob from the Dicks Creek trail (FS 19, called Junaluska Trail).  FS 19D (white blazed) climbs up Diamond Valley from Junaluska trail to FS 19B (Appletree Trail, yellow blazed) which runs E to Apple Tree CG and W to FS 19C below London Bald.  Trails are well maintained and easy to follow.  Trees are generally second growth with some big ones to 3 and 4 ft. here and there, but particularly along the very steep ridge up which FS 19B climbs toward London Bald.  There is a major clearcut area in the Piercy Creek drainage just N of Diamond Valley where it meets FS 19B.  FS 19C is an old roadbed with a very gentle grade following the contours 100 ft or so below and SE of the main ridgeline.  It gives some views to Nantahala Lake and to the Valley River Mts. in the Tusquitee wild area to the S.
    Cerulean warblers, an uncommon species of concern, were sighted across the road to the SE from the wild area.
 
 

Return to Roadless  Areas Page

Why save Wild Areas?

Outings page