Vandalism to cars parked at trailheads is a problem all up and down the AT. Our section has had little vandalism compared to some areas, but there IS some.
Cars left at trailheads in the backcountry, such as Deep Gap, Rock Gap, Backcountry information area, Burningtown Gap, and Tellico Gap, have occasionally been broken into when items of value were visible inside the cars.
Hikers can usually make arrangements for leaving cars at Nantahala Outdoor Center.
1) Deep Gap -- Reached via highway US64 and Forest Service 71. From Franklin, NC, go West on US64 13.6 miles (from overpass where US23 turns South toward Atlanta) to FS71. Turn is just past top of hill with 'Clay County' sign. From West, follow US64 East past Hayesville, NC, make long climb up mountain, and near top of second climb, watch for sign for FS71 on right. FS71 is a 6-mile single-lane gravel road, normally quite passable for autos. Note that this road is closed during the Winter -- usually between Jan. 1st and March 15th. Follow FS71 to parking area at end; the AT crosses through this parking area. To go South on AT, head West out of parking area -- to go North, head East.
2) Mooney Gap (next ROAD access to AT -- see below for side-trail
access points in Standing Indian Basin).
Forest Service Road #83 crosses the AT at Mooney Gap. There are two
ways to reach this point.
Both these access roads will be closed
during the Winter, Jan. through mid-March.
A) From the South the easiest access is to turn West off US23/441 just South of
Otto, NC, at the sign for the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratories. Follow the signs
right into Coweeta Labs, take the LEFT fork as you enter (Ball Creek Rd.)
and follow this one-lane dirt road all the way up the mountain and past the
Anthony's Nose Trail, then about ¾ mile downhill to Mooney Gap. Watch for the
AT blazes, the gap is not marked.
B) From the North or West, use US64. From Franklin, follow US64 West 11.4 miles
(from overpass where US23 goes South to Atlanta) to left turn at sign
saying "Appalachian Trail" and "Standing Indian Campground".
Follow this road (Old Rt. 64) 1.9 miles to sign reading
"Standing Indian Campground" and turn right on paved road (FS67).
Follow this road past Standing Indian Campground (keep left at campground
entrance), and it turns into a gravel road. Follow the gravel road for
another 8 miles to a junction with FS 83. Turn right on FS 83 and go about
3/4 mile to Mooney Gap.
3) Rock Gap --
From Franklin, follow US64 West 11.4 miles (from overpass
where US23 goes South to Atlanta) to left turn at sign
saying "Appalachian Trail" and "Standing Indian Campground".
Follow this road (Old Rt. 64) 1.9 miles to sign reading
"Standing Indian Campground" and turn right on paved road (FS67).
Follow road for one-half mile to parking area with sign
"Rock Gap". The AT passes through area without crossing
road, go left for Northbound, right for Southbound.
* Wallace Gap is where you turned off 'old 64' onto road
to campground -- it is NOT a good trailhead -- poor parking.
4) Winding Stair Gap -- This is where the AT crosses US64 at the top of the big hill coming out of Franklin (9.8 miles from overpass) just past large rock cut. It is an easy place to access the Trail, with parking lot, etc. It is NOT a good place to leave a vehicle overnight! There has been vandalism to cars left here overnight.
5) Wayah Gap -- To reach Wayah Gap from Franklin, follow US64 West for 4 miles from overpass, turn right at signs for 'Wayah Bald' and 'LBJ Job Corps'. Just a short distance after turning, turn Left on 'Wayah Road' (state road 1310). Follow this road (becomes very winding and steep) for about 10 miles to top of climb, where you will see signs for both Wayah Bald (right) and 'Wayah Crest'. Turn Left into dirt road to Wayah Crest -- (left fork short way in) and park in small parking area. The AT is reached by walking through the picnic area until you see white blazes. If you are headed North on the trail, turn left -- if South, turn right.
6) Wayah Bald -- follow the directions above for Wayah Gap, but turn RIGHT at the gap, and follow the gravel road for 4.3 miles to the parking area, which is just around a sharp right turn after reaching the paved path to the bald. A few feet along that path you will pick up the blazes for the AT (white) and the Bartram (yellow). If you are headed South, make a sharp left turn just before the latrines and follow the blazes downhill. If you are headed North, follow the blazes up the paved path to the stone tower and continue.
7) Burningtown Gap -- This trailhead can only be accessed from State Road 1310 (Wayah Road described in #4 above), which runs between US64 4 miles West of Franklin, and US19 at the Nantahala River rafting put-in location. Take 1310 to the sign for Burningtown Gap, and follow the signs. The road starts as macadam, turns to gravel, then dirt, then at the end is just a track (sometimes passable by car, sometimes only by 4-wheel, high clearance vehicle). The road ends at Burningtown Gap, and AT blazes are visible at both ends of the old orchard clearing. AT North and South match the compass here.
8) Tellico Gap -- Reached from SR1310 (see above) or from US28 that
runs from Franklin to US19 near Bryson City. The road in
from 1310 (Otter Creek Rd.) is a good dirt road, while the
road in from US28 (Tellico Rd.) starts fine, but is a very
steep, rough road before reaching the Gap.
From 1310, turn at sign for Tellico Gap, and follow Otter
Creek road to Gap, which is top of climb, and has parking
areas bounded by railroad-tie walls.
From 28, 11.9 miles North of Franklin, turn left across
white concrete bridge (Tellico Road). Follow Tellico Rd.,
as it goes from pavement to dirt to steep & winding, to
top of gap and parking. Again, AT North and South match
compass directions.
9) Wesser -- the Trail crosses US19 at Wesser, right in the middle of Nantahala Outdoor Center. There is a state road sign for the Trail at this crossing. NOC is a hiker-friendly place, and you can ask about places to leave your car, plus shuttles when they have time for it.
1) Kimsey Creek Trail to Deep Gap -- From the Backcountry Parking Area, take the blue-blazed trail that leaves beside the bulletin board. Follow this trail into the Standing Indian Campground, and watch for signs just after crossing the bridge across the Nantahala River, and again at a trail junction a short way into the woods. The trail skirts the campground area, then follows Kimsey Creek upstream to Deep Gap and the AT.
2) Lower Ridge Trail to Standing Indian Mountain --This strenuous trail will take you to the top of Standing Indian Mtn. in a little under 5 miles. It is a rough trail and not always well-maintained. It starts like the Kimsey Creek Trail, turns Left at the bridge over the river, and skirts the campground.
3) Beech Gap Trail -- continue on FS67 for 6 miles past Rock Gap. The road turns to dirt, but is a good road. There is a small parking area at the Trailhead. It is 2.7 miles on the Beech Gap Trail to the AT at Beech Gap.
4) Timber Ridge Trail -- continue on FS67 for 6.4 miles past Rock Gap. There is a small parking area at the trailhead. It is 2.3 miles up the Timber Ridge Trail to the AT. This trail meets the AT 0.4 miles South of Carter Gap.
5) Betty Creek Trail -- continue on FS67 for 8.3 miles past Rock Gap. There is a clearing/camping area at this trailhead. The beginning of the Betty Creek trail is poorly marked -- it starts at an opening in the East side of the clearing, and almost immediately crosses a small creek. Past the creek follow the blue blazes for about a half mile to the AT at Betty Creek Gap.
6) Mooney Gap -- continue on FS67 for 9 miles, then turn right on FS83 for 0.5 mile. Mooney Gap a is small camping/parking area where AT crosses road.
7) Albert Mtn/Bigspring Gap -- follow FS67 for 11 miles to it's end at a parking lot. At the far end of the lot, an old gated road leads about 1/3 mile to the AT between Albert Mtn. and Bigspring Gap. Turn right uphill for Albert, left for Bigspring Gap and shelter.
8) Long Branch Trail -- follow FS67 for 1.6 miles to the "back- country Information Area", a parking lot with displays at the end of the pavement. The Long Branch Trail starts just across the road from the parking area, and leads 2.0 miles to the AT at Glassmine Gap, which is about mid-way between Bigspring Gap and Rock Gap.