The Appalachian & Bartram Trails

The Appalachian and Bartram Trails. . Here, both the Appalachian Trail and the Bartram Trail cross Wayah Bald, affording hikers a majestic view of the surrounding mountains., Appalachian Trail , The Appalachian Trail's original concept proposed in 1921 was to preserve the Appalachian crests by developing a great trail traversing its length so as to allow city workers to revitalize themselves and escape the mechanization of modern society. The dream was to create a footpath of wonder and tranquility., The Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses 14 states and stretches 2100 miles along Appalachian Mountain ridgelines from Georgia to Maine. Three to four million people, from all over the world, hike some portion of the Appalachian Trail each year. It was constructed in the 1920s and 1930s by volunteer hiking clubs. Today, the Nantahala Hiking Club and the U.S. Forest Service work together to maintain 53 miles of "The A.T." that cross the Wayah Ranger District. The trail is marked with white blazes., Bartram Trail , "...I beheld with rapture and astonishment a sublimely awful scene of power and magnificence, a world of mountains piled upon mountains." , , William Bartram, 1775, William Bartram traveled throughout the Southeast from 1773-1777, recording vivid descriptions of the plants, animals, and Indians he encountered. The North Carolina Bartram Trail Society honors the famous naturalist through their establishment and maintenance of a 100-mile trail approximating as close as possible to Bartram's original route through Western North Carolina. For an exhilarating experience, Society members encourage hikers to just "Follow the yellow-blazed trail!", The name “Wayah” comes from the Cherokee Indian word “wa’ya” meaning “wolf.”