Trail Shelters
Since this entire section lies within the Nantahala National Forest, camping
is allowed without permit anywhere except where it is specifically
prohibited. At this time there are only two areas in the Forest that prohibit
camping. One is the area around the observation tower on Wayah Bald, the other is
the "Wayah Crest" picnic area near Wayah Gap.
For users of the Appalachian Trail, there is a series of trail shelters for
hikers. These shelters are spaced to be an approximate day's travel apart. They
vary in style and construction, ranging from a 4-person log shelter crafted from
(now extinct) native American chestnut by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the
1930's, to recent custom designed log structures built between 1994 and the present
and capable of sheltering a dozen hikers.
These most recent additions are three replacement shelters and a
completely new one just North of Wesser Bald. These shelters are of a design
called a "Nantahala Shelter" by the NHC. They are a modification of
the traditional "Adirondack" type shelter which retains the three-sided
construction, but has a considerably extended front roof-line providing a
sheltered cooking and eating area, including a picnic table.
These shelters were designed by a committee of the NHC and are built of
cedar logs manufactured and cut to our specifications. The logs and other
building materials were air-lifted by helicopter to the remote shelter sites.
The shelters were all cooperative efforts by the USFS and the NHC, with the NHC
providing the construction labor and the building materials, and the USFS
providing the air-lift and biological/archaeological impact studies. Construction pictures of the new
shelters are in the Photo Album.
Trail Shelters From North to South.
Miles from the Nantahala River
- 0.8
- A. Rufus Morgan Shelter. A log Adirondack type shelter
built with on-site timber (poplar) approximately 1973. The blizzard of '93
dropped a tree which destroyed the roof, which was rebuilt in the summer of 1994.
The source of water for the shelter is the stream across the trail from the
shelter site.
- 5.7
- Wesser Bald Shelter. This was the first of the
Nantahala style shelters to be constructed. Built in the summer of 1994 by the
NHC. This was a new shelter site giving some relief from the previous
eleven-mile stretch between shelters. Water for this shelter is approximately
0.1 mile south, from an excellent boxed spring, the former water source for the
fire tower on Wesser Bald.
Photos
of this shelter are in the album.
- 11.5
- Cold Spring Shelter. A somewhat unique shelter
constructed of American chestnut logs by the CCC in the 1930's. One of the few
remaining log structures built by that organization. Water for this shelter is
from the spring approximately 5 yards in front of the shelter.
16.3
Wayah Shelter. The Wayah Shelter was completed May 2007. It has a
moldering privy and five tent sites. Water is accessible 600 feet AT
west. The shelter is 16.3 miles South of US 19/74; 4.8 miles south of
Cold Springs Shelter and 7.2 miles north of Siler Bald Shelter. It is one mile
AT north of the Wayah Tower. The Shelter was built from funds donated in
memory of Ann and Larry McDuff. ATC contributed funding for helicopter
flight of materials to the site. Nantahala District, USFS transported
materials to the loading area.
Photos
of this shelter are in the album.
- 23.1
- Siler Bald Shelter. Built by the Forest Service in
1959, this plywood shelter sits on a 0.5 mile loop trail off the AT. Water is
from the spring approximately 250 feet from the shelter. An extended front roof
was added to this shelter in 1997.
- 31.1
- Rock Gap Shelter. Sitting 300 feet from the trail, this
shelter (built in 1965 by the USFS) is just a few hundred feet from FS 67. There are
two small springs at the site, but they are unreliable in dry weather. A side
extension roof for covered eating area was added to this shelter also. Photos of this shelter are in the
album.
- 36.4
- Big Spring Gap. Also built in 1959, this shelter sits
approximately 280 feet from the trail. Water is from the spring 75 yards below
the shelter. This spring is also unreliable in dry or drought weather. This
shelter has also had an extended roof added by the club.
- 43.2
- Carter Gap Shelter. The original Carter Gap Shelter is another
1959 vintage shelter, this one sits 75 feet from the trail and has a generally
reliable spring 150 feet down the blue-blazed trail beyond. In 1998, the club
build another of it's new Nantahala style shelters across the AT from the old
shelter. Pictures of the new shelter
are in the photo album.
- 50.9
- Standing Indian Shelter. Built in the summer of 1995
this is one of the new Nantahala style shelters and is a slight relocation of
the previous shelter (built in 1964). The new site is slightly north of the
former location and has a stream near by on a blue-blazed trail. Construction pictures of the new shelter are in the
Photo Album.
- 55.7
- Muskrat Creek Shelter. Another new Nantahala shelter, this
one replaced the old A-frame shelter built by the USFS in 1972.
This shelter, built in April 1995, sits by the source of Muskrat Creek and water
is available from the spring next to the shelter.
Pictures
of the new shelter are in the Photo Album.
-
- XX.X