Appalachian Trail #3 (Wallace Gap to Fontana Dam)

Location: Western North Carolina
Trip Starts: Wallace Gap
Trip Ends: Fontana Dam
Total Distance: 59.8 miles
Hike Type: One-Way, Shuttle Hike
Hike Difficulty: Difficult
Trails Used: Appalachian Trail
Trail Traffic: Heavy
Trip Type: Backpacking
More Information:

Appalachian Trail Conservancy
799 West Washington Street
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331

Highlights:

The Appalachian Trail runs along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee for about 200 miles, often straddling the ridgeline that separates the two states. It’s one of the most scenic and diverse sections of the entire 2,190+ mile trail, with high elevations, scenic balds, dense forests, and stunning views.  The State of North Carolina has the highest point of the entire A.T. at Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet) which is on the ridgeline in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.    

The Appalachian Trail in this section passes near the town of Franklin, North Carolina and crosses some classic southern balds on the mountains of Siler, Wesser, and Cheoah in this sixty mile traverse of the Nantahala National Forest. The Nantahala River and N.O.C. (Nantahala Outdoor Center) are nice stops on the route to Fontana Dam, which at 480 feet, is the end of this section and the start of the A.T. in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

GPS Coordinates:

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