Wayah Bald is a high-altitude treeless open area in Nantahala National Forest

Nantahala National Forest

The Nantahala National Forest, established in 1920, is a national forest located in the American state of North Carolina. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the...

, near Franklin, North Carolina

Franklin, North Carolina

Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,490 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail friendly destination...

. The Wayah Bald Observation Tower is located at the area's highest point (5,385 feet); the stone observation tower

Observation tower

An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...

 was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 for fire detection.
The Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...

 and Bartram Trail

Bartram Trail

The Bartram Trail follows the approximate route of 18th-century naturalist William Bartram’s southern journey from March, 1773 to January, 1777. Bartram explored much of the territory which is now the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and...

 cross at Wayah Bald.

Wayah Bald is a popular destination for hikers, especially during Spring, when the rhododendron

Rhododendron

Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...

 and azalea

Azalea

Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...

s are in bloom.

History

Wayah Bald received its name from the Cherokee natives. It was named "Wa-ya", the Cherokee word for wolf, after the red wolves that once inhabited the area. Spear points found on the bald indicate that indigenous people used the area as hunting grounds more than eleven thousand years ago.

Wayah Bald Ranger Station to be repaired with stimulus monies

In 2009, the Forest Service will work to restore the north face of the Tower using about $75,000 in Federal Stimulus Funds. The tower's north wall is breaking down and the stones will be removed and new concrete will be used to repair the wall and reset the stones.