Nantahala Mountains: Siler Bald Location: Macon County, NC, 10 miles southwest of Franklin, Wayah Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest USGS Topographic Maps: Wayah Bald, Topton, Rainbow Springs This bald is named for the same Siler family that gave its name to the Siler Bald in the Smokies. The bald itself is open and planted in grass. The Forest Service maintains it by mowing. The Applachian Trail crosses this area, from Winding Stairs Gap on U.S. Highway 64 in the south, to Wayah Gap in the north. A shelter on the AT provides overnight facilities for through hikers. The area is most important because it protects a long corridor of large areas that the Trail strings together. Download this Map Nantahala Mountains: Siler Bald 2.3 mb pdf file Approximate size: 6,279 acres Old growth acreage: 13 acres The Jarrett Creek drainage on the north side of the area is an intriguing deep forest, and relatively untouched. There is no trail into this woodland dell, so caution is advised to those who try to penetrate it. Spring flowers are abundant here. In the fall, there usually is a bumper crop of grapes. Unusual Plants and Animals * Hugh Erwin and the American Chestnut Foundation found a patch of planted American chestnut trees near the Appalachian Trail south of Wayah Gap in 2000. * Siler Bald is part of a bird migration corridor along the Nantahala Mountain Range (source: TWS meeting 12/15/00).

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