AT-Wesser to Cheoah Bald

Hike Name: AT-Wesser to Cheoah Bald Location: southwest NC Length: 8.1 Submitted by: Tara Lee Mostowy Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more North Carolina trail reviews North Carolina national parks North Carolina state parks
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Description
You start out this hike at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, NC. The Appalachian trail goes right through the center and it picks up towards Cheoah at the railroad tracks. There are some very very steep climbs, but fortunately they don't go for too long. The trail starts out kind of dry and even arid in some areas, but very pretty and overlooking the Nantahala River. A few miles in, it becomes very lush and green. All kinds of weird rock formations are in that section, along with a small spring coming out of the side of the mountain with some of the best tasting water ever. Its a good place to refill your water bottles/camelbacks/etc. I usually don't even bother with purifying because its so clean. A little past that point you get an area where the Grassy Gap trail intersects it. This area actually is very grassy, and it makes for soft ground. About a mile and a half or so before you reach Cheoah, you get to Swim Bald at the top of a very steep climb. This is a really nice spot to camp. From Swim Bald to Cheoah Bald, their is a lot of up and down, with the short section right before the summit being the worst. The top of Cheoah has incredible veiws on both sides where you may kill about a roll of film. To get back, you can either turn around and go back the way you came, or continue a little ways past Cheoah to where it connects with the Bartram Trail. The Bartram Trail will take you down a very steep, but very beautiful area. It goes for about 5 miles before reaching hwy 19/74. Your best bet from there is to hitch-hike the 6 miles back to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and I can almost guarantee that it won't be hard to do, as wet smelly kayakers do it all the time. A big bonus when you get back is checking out NOC's Outfitter Store for gear and other trail maps, and food at any of their restaurants. I love this hike! NOTE: Bring lots of film-you'll wish you had if you don't.

Directions to Hike
The Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Highway 19 West
Bryson City, NC 28713
www.noc.com

Your best bet is to look up NOC's website, as they have really good directions from everywhere on there.

Contact Information
Nantahala National Forest
Route 1 Box 16A
Robbinsville, NC 28771
(828)257-4200

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