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Cheoah Bald via Bartram Trail - Nantahala National Forest, NC

2,483 views · Published 2 May 2017 · 12:40 · Indexed 11 October 2026

Channel: Zachary Robbins · 2017 · Travel & Events

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My 2nd hike of the day, and easily one of the toughest I've done in a while. Thinking back, I probably should've reversed the order of my two hikes. This hike followed the Bartram Trail to Cheoah Bald and is located in the Cheoah Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest. I started at a small picnic area in the Nantahala River Gorge, which is a shortcut that cuts off almost a mile round-trip from the Bartram Trailhead on FR 1412. The Bartram Trail climbs 1,000 ft in the 1st mile out of the gorge, then follows Ledbetter Creek, crossing it numerous times. The creek was at high flow from the prior week's rain. The trail passes by Bartram Falls, which is difficult to photograph from any angle. Above and below the main drop the creek flows through 2 really cool chutes that were more interesting than the main drop. The punishing climb continues all the way to Bellcollar Gap.

The Bartram Trail soon meets the Appalachian Trail and crosses Cheoah Bald, the highest peak in the Cheoah Mountains at 5,062 ft. The north view from an outcrop of the Great Smokies and Fontana Lake is not expansive and everything was too hazy. The campsite and large field on the south side provide terrific views of many peaks in Nantahala National Forest. Wesser Bald, Rocky Bald, and Copper Ridge Bald (I mistakenly said Cooper Spring Bald in the video) were SE; Wayah Bald and Wine Spring Bald were south with Standing Indian poking up behind; and Boteler Peak and the peaks of the Fires Creek Rim including Tusquitee Bald to the SW. I couldn't stay long because it was past 5:00 PM so I went down fast through a 20 minute rain shower and blisters. The hike up is over 3,200 ft in 5 miles for context, it is tough. Because of the pace I had to maintain and my exhaustion, I failed to take many video clips. Ledbetter Creek was really nice but I did not have time to show you all of the scenery.

Hike was 9.9 miles in 5 hours and 25 minutes.

Hike location
https://goo.gl/maps/55VP6wdheXFknRLF8

Hike report
http://www.hikingupward.com/NNF/CheoahBald/

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