Nantahala Mountains: Ash Cove Location: Northeast of Andrews, NC, in Cherokee County bordering the (which?) Ranger District boundary, Nantahala National Forest USGS Topographic Maps: Andrews, Robbinsville, Hewitt, Topton The Ash Cove Mountain Treasure is on the eastern end of the Snowbird Mountains that rise above Andrews, NC. The Snowbird ridge line carries the old western extension of the Bartram Trail. When the Bartram Trail was built to Cheoah Bald the Forest Service abandoned the western extension. The Cheoah Ranger District now refers to this trail as the Valley River Trail and is searching for volunteers to restore it to suitability for hiking. Download this Map Nantahala Mountains: Ash Cove 2.5 mb pdf file Approximate size: 5,884 acres Old growth acreage: 1,708 acres The trail travels along the ridgeline for 20 miles to Porterfield Gap, passing near 4,700-foot Teyahalee Bald (formerly Joanne Bald) at the northwest end of the Ash Cove area. Teyahalee Bald is a prominent feature for hikers traveling the Fires Creek Rim Trail that is just across the valley to the south on the Valley River Mountains. The Piercy Bald Mountain Treasure is close to the Ash Cove on the northeast end and the Ash Cove Mountain Treasure should be considered together with the Piercy Bald unit as a smaller but representative sample of a primitive area in need of protection. If the Valley River Trail is reconstructed to Porterfield Gap, it could be taken over the Snowbird ridge spine north to connect with the Snowbird Trail system in the Snowbird unit, thus connecting these two Mountain Treasures areas. Forest Communities Snowbird Mountains (far east): Acidic Cove, Submesic Oak, Dry Oak, Dry Oak-Pine, and Pine-Oak Heath. High Peak: Rich Cove, Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic, Acidic Cove, High Elevation Northern Red Oak, Mesic Oak, Dry Oak, and Subxeric Oak. Largest Diameter Tree of Its Kind in Nantahala-Pisgah: * Sassafras, 24.2 inches (Upper Ash Cove) * Pitch pine, 24 inches, (Tom Thumb Creek). This is may be the second largest pitch pine in the two forests.

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