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Nantahala Mountains: Piercy Mountain Range |
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There are 26 miles of developed trails in this area including a section of the North Carolina Bartram Trail. Clusters of old-growth oaks are visible from the some of the ridge line trails. The London Bald Trail travels from Junaluska Gap on the southeast end to the Bartram Trail near Sutherland Gap and stays near the ridge line with views of the Nantahala Ridge spine and Nantahala Lake.
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This is an important corridor for both game and recreationists, providing a continuous, wild corridor between the southern Nantahala Wilderness and the Cheoah Bald Mountain Treasures areas. Its many hiking loops offer great day hiking.
The North Carolina Bartram Trail crosses the northern side of the area. A long ridge trail begins near Junaluska Gap and winds along the high ridge almost the full length of the area. Many side trails intersect with this ridge trail, providing many short loop trips. Another trail along Piercy Creek leads to a trailhead on the Nantahala River and the road which parallels it.
The Appletree Group Camp near the eastern corner of the area is an important destination for larger groups.. Campers here can hike out of the campground, or by short drives reach a myriad of other trails in the western mountains.
The aqueduct from Aquone Reservoir to the Nantahala powerhouse passes under this area. Uniquely, there is a waterfall inside the duct. Builders drove bores from each end they proved to be vertically misaligned when they finally met.
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Upper Nantahala Gorge (southwest)
Old Growth: 906 acres
Forest Communities
Hemlock-Northern Hardwood and possibly Mesic Oak.
Unusual Animals
* Rattlesnakes are common in the Piercy Creek watershed
* American elm trees occur along the Nantahala River in the section next to FS 308 (source: Rob Messick)
Aquatics
The upper Nantahala Gorge is a well known trout fishing area and is also very scenic. |
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Piercy Bald
Old Growth: 298 acres
Forest Communities
Hemlock-Northern Hardwood, Rich Cove, High Elevation Northern Red Oak, Submesic Oak, and Dry Oak.
Unusual Plants
* A large jewel weed patch was found in the Powder Burnt Branch watershed. It was associated with a natural boulder field. |
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Upper Dicks Creek
Old Growth: 846 acres
Forest Communities
High Elevation Northern Red Oak, Acidic Cove, Alluvial Birch-Poplar, Dry Oak, and Dry Oak-Pine.
Largest Diameter Tree of Its Kind in the Nantahala-Pisgah:
* Virginia pine 20 inches (Pine Branch)
Unusual Plants
The substrate is generally acidic in this area. However, High Elevation Northern Red Oak forest in part of the upper Pine Branch watershed stood out as having cove conditions. Numerous site visits confirmed diverse herb cover and mesic tree species. |
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Valley River Side
Old Growth: 86 acres
Forest Communities
Northern Hardwood, Hemlock-Northern Hardwood, High Elevation Northern Red Oak, and Subxeric Pine.
Unusual Plants
* A large striped maple 7 inches in diameter was found in culled mesic forest in this area. This second generation cove forest stood out in the context of dry and acidic forest types that surround it.
* A 30 foot tall live American chestnut tree was found in High Elevation Northern Red Oak forest in the upper section of Turnpike Creek watershed.
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Kennedy Top
Approximate size: 9,107 acres
Old growth acreage: 2,515 acres (906-Upper Nantahala Gorge; 298-Piercy Bald; 846-Upper Dicks Creek; 86-Valley River Side; 436-Kennedy Top)
Location: Cherokee and Macon counties, NC, 8 miles east of Andrew, Wayah Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest
USGS Topographic Maps: Topton, Hewitt, Andrews
Forest Communities
Rich Cove, High Elevation Northern Red Oak, Dry Oak, Dry Oak-Pine, and Subxeric Pine.
Unusual Plants
Soil humus is deep and dark in upper Kennedy Creek. Herb cover is thick and moderately diverse in Rich Cove forest and High Elevation Northern Red Oak forest north of Kennedy Top. |
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