Appalachian Trail - Wayah Bald to Cheoah Bald - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Appalachian Trail - Wayah Bald to Cheoah Bald
Country:	United States
State:	North Carolina
Nearby Town:	Wesser
Rating:
Directions:	From Franklin, drive four miles west on US 64 and turn right at a sign for Wayah Bald. Take the first left onto Wayah Road (State Road 1310), and go about 6.5 miles. Turn left onto gravel Forest Road 388, and follow signs for Wayah Bald.
Total Hike Distance:	34.60 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Starts:	Wayah Bald
Hike Ends:	Winding Stairs Parking Area
Trails Used:	Appalachian Trail, Bartram Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams, Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	National Forest Service Cheoah Ranger District Route 1, Box 16-A Robbinsville, NC 28771 (704) 479-6431
Best Season:	Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	Cheoah Bald at 5062 feet is the northern terminus of the Bartram Trail and it shares the summit with the Appalachian Trail. The views from here are spectacular from a grassy meadow that looks south over the Nantahala Gorge and from a small clearing that looks north to the Smoky Mountains. We hiked a thirty mile route over Cheoah Bald that included ascents of Wayah and Wesser Balds. The route climbs over 3000 feet from the Nantahala Outdoor Center (N.O.C.) to Cheoah Bald and it is a long and challenging ascent. We finished this shuttle hike by descending Cheoah on the Bartram Trail for five miles to U.S. 19.