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Location: Cherokee County, North Carolina, 12 miles northwest of Murphy, on the Tennessee border, Nantahala National Forest, Tusquitee Ranger District
USGS Topographic Maps: McDaniel Bald, Unaka
A high ridge marks the North Carolina - Tennessee State Line west from Beaverdam Bald to the terminus of Forest Road 50 at Sandy Gap. This Gap is also the trailhead of the Kirkland Creek Trail. On the west of Forest Road (FS) 50 the ridge continues to Cantrell Top. There are two old growth candidate sites on the Tennessee side of the area. This gap has long served as a way to pass from the Ridge and Valley Province to the Hiwassee Valley. Unicoi Gap is an historic area to the Cherokee people and a Cherokee chief may be buried near there.
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Approximate size:
8,931 acres
Old growth acreage:
227 acres |
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That tract connects seamlessly with the National Forest lands on the Tennessee side of the boundary, all of which should be considered as one roadless area of more than 20,000 acres.
On both sides of the state line the forest has recovered from past logging, and now supports a medium-aged forest of northern hardwoods. Given a few more years, the growth will become awe-inspiring.
Designated trail 82 follows the state line ridge. There are no signposts and it is not marked in any way. The tread is not readily seen due to very light use. Hikers can use as markers the double orange paint blazes designating a wildlife management boundary and must take particular care where the trail makes a sharp turn to the north where Long Ridge joins from the south. Beaverdam Bald can be reached from Upper Bald River in Tennessee via the Brookshire Creek Trail, or via a jeep trail, FS 24, which leads off FS 420 on Tipton Creek. The Kirkland Creek Trail, which runs down from the end of FS 50, involves several wet crossings before reaching the Upper Bald River and FS 126 in Tennessee.
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