Copyright © 2011 - N2 Ventures, Inc.  All Rights Reserved

N2Backpacking Search

CHEOAH BALD

LOCATION:  Western North Carolina
HIKE STARTS:  Wayah Bald
HIKE ENDS:  U.S. 19
TOTAL DISTANCE:  34.6 Miles
HIKE TYPE:  One Way, Shuttle Hike
HIKE DIFFICULTY:  Difficult
TRAILS USED:  Appalachian, Bartram
TRAIL TRAFFIC:  Moderate to Heavy
TRIP TYPE:  Multi-Day Hike
MANAGEMENT:  Nantahala National Forest

HIGHLIGHTS:  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. 

North Carolina Hiking TrailsNorth Carolina Hiking Trails, 4th North Carolina Road Atlas  North Carolina Atlas and Gazetteer

MORE DETAILS

bullet click to see trail photos from this hike to Cheoah BaldJanuary 26, 2002
bullet click to view a detailed trip report for this backpacking trip on the Appalachian TrailJanuary 26, 2002 (password required)
bullet click to view maps for this hike in the Nantahala National Forest area map, detailed maps - Days 1-3 (password required), profile map - Appalachian Trail: Day 1-2, profile map - Bartram Trail: Day 3, TopoZone map
bullet click for more information on the Appalachian Trail
bullet click for more information on the Bartram Trail
bulletclick for the Long Trail discussion forum
bulletclick for the Southeastern Destinations discussion forum
bulletclick for Appalachian Trail hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick for Bartram Trail hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick to access the guidebook Appalachian Trail: Georgia-North Carolina which has details on this destination
bulletclick for other North Carolina hiking and backpacking books
bulletclick for other hikes on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina
bulletclick here to add your hike, trip report, or feedback for this destination