CNY Hiking HOME PAGE AT in North Carolina AT - Bly Gap to Fontana Dam Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail In NC

Tellico Gap to US 19

Wesser Bald, Jump-Up Lookout

 

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AT Hiking Guide - North Carolina
Bly Gap to Fontana Dam
Only $5.00
Hiking guide with descriptions and maps for the Appalachian Trail as it travels in NC from Bly Gap to Fontana Dam. The guide is broken down by 6 sections of the AT. The book comes to you delivered as a pdf file via email. Use the buy now button and we will send you the file via email usually within 24 hours of receiving payment. Happy Hiking!

This 7.5 mile section of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina features the views from the observation tower on 4627 foot Wesser Bald.  It's only a 1.4 mile hike along the AT from Tellico Gap to Wesser Bald, making this a very popular day hike in the area.

The section begins at 3864 foot Tellico Gap where the trail crosses dirt NC 1365.  Parking for about ten cars is located at the gap and the GPS coordinates are N35 16.085 W83 34.339 for those who have a GPS devise in their vehicle.

View from Wesser Bald Observation Tower

The trail ascends as it makes its way to Wesser Bald, reaching the observation tower at 1.4 miles.  The views are real nice from the observation tower, which was formerly a fire tower.  The Great Smoky Mountains and Fontana Lake dominate the views to the north.  North bound thru hikers get a sneak peak of where their AT adventure will be soon taking them.

Wesser Bald Observation Tower

At 2.1 miles the AT reaches the junction with the Wesser Creek Trail and the Wesser Bald Shelter.  The shelter was built in 1994 and sleeps eight with no privy.  Tent sites are in the clearing where the trail heads to the shelter.  This was the first of the "Nantahala design" shelters.

Wesser Bald Shelter

View from the Jump-up

The Wesser Creek Trail was the former route of the AT.  The trail follows Wesser Creek through large stands of straight trunk Poplars, Hemlocks and Rhododendron tunnels.  The trail travels steeply from the AT before descending at a gentler rate.

The Appalachian Trail begins a long gradual descent from the shelter.  At 6.7 miles the AT reaches the Rufus Morgan Shelter.  The shelter was built in 1989 and sleeps six with no privy.  The shelter is located in a cove and is named after the founder of the Nantahala Club.

The AT makes its final descent toward US 19 and the Nantahala Outdoor Center, reaching the highway at 7.5 miles.  This marks the end of this section of the Appalachian Trail.  This is a popular stop for thru hikers.

We offer the full GPS tracks of this section as well as 88 miles of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina from Bly Gap to Fontana Dam for only $1.97 via a .gpx file.  This file also includes waypoints for the shelters located along the trail as well as parking areas.  Use the BUY NOW button above to purchase this and we'll send the file via e-mail ASAP!  A great tool to keep you on the trail!

We recommend purchasing any of the following books for those looking for more information on hiking the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina:

 Appalachian Trail Guide to Tennessee-North Carolina: 13th Edition

 Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Georgia North Carolina Tennessee

 Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 Best Easy Day Hikes Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 Hiking Trails of the Smokies

 Trails Illustrated Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 Trails Illustrated Great Smoky Mountains National Park Explorer

 

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