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Location: Madison County, NC, 12 miles northeast of Hot Springs, French Broad Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest
USGS Topographic Maps: Greystone, Flag Pond, White Rock, Davy Crockett Lake, Hot Spring
This area lies on both sides of the ridge that forms the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. If the acreage in both states is combined, the result is the largest Mountain Treasure in the two states, and the largest potential wilderness on National Forest lands between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Shenandoah National Parks.
Years ago the flat ridge crest was cleared and provided summer pasture for the cattle of settlers on both sides and the outlines of the pastures are still visible. Also still visible are the gravesites of those who lost their lives during Civil War skirmishes here and in the adjacent valleys. Rock outcrops give expansive views, particularly near Camp Creek Bald and at Big Butt. Other cliffs serve as nesting sites for peregrine falcons.
The Appalachian Trail follows the ridge crest in this unit for over 15 miles and there are three Trail shelters along that route. Several side trails provide access to the Trail from both North Carolina and Tennessee. One of the most unusual is the trail from Green Ridge Knob down Dry Creek, so named as it runs underground for long distances. |
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Approximate size:
11,599 acres
Roadless acreage:
12,017 acres (under Cherokee National Forest) and 10,971 acres (under Pisgah National Forest)
Old growth acreage:
1,323 acres |
