Monday, September 10, 2007

Up Wayah way

Wayah Road, popular with bikers and where the Appalachian Trail crosses between Franklin and Nantahala:

But if you take the side road up to Wayah Bald, worth the detour if you can handle the dirt forest road: This is Wilson Lick, where park rangers lived. The house is now shuttered.

No way to emphasize the size of these huge oak trees.
From top of Wayah Bald,a bit over a mile high:

There's an observation tower, built in the 1930s:



The Appalachian and Bartram Trails cross through here:

1 comment:

Susan Tidwell said...

After many years of driving up through the gorge from here to the Smokies, one day we turned at the river put-in area and followed the road all the way up to Wayah Bald! What a great place, the view, the inviting trails leading off, the rock tower.

I am reading Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier, in which he mentions Wayah, Deep Creek, Valley River, Nantahala, in reference to the Cherokee. It is a great read, made especially so since I have seen all these areas firsthand.

Great pictures as usual, thanks for taking us along on your ride!