“Wayah” (why-yuh)  is a Cherokee word which means wolf.  Although wolves have been long gone from this area, it is very easy to hear a wolf howl from here - in your imagination!  It truly is a place for wolves, if ever there was one!  This seems especially true when the bald becomes lost in swirling clouds, and the temperature slowly falls.  It is possible to see snow up here as late as May, and as early as September.

    The tower provides marvelous views of the surrounding mountains.  If you have binoculars, you can get (on a clear day) a wonderful view of Siler Bald.  There are picnic tables over in the woods near the loop in the road.  You may encounter Ravens who stop by to help you enjoy your lunch!

    There are several trails  on the mountain.  The Bartram Trail and Appalachian Trail join here and cross Wayah Bald together before heading on their separate directions, each heading for different mountains.

    Wolves are slowly being reintroduced into their former ranges today.  Maybe someday, once upon a time, a long time from now, wolves will again call from Wayah Bald, scattering Ravens into the swirling clouds. 

NOTE:  If you have two cars, take one to the Wayah CG and leave it in the parking lot, then drive the other up to the crest of Wayah Bald and leave it in the parking lot there.  If you don’t have two cars, I would recommend another hike, because this is a formidable hike going up.  And keep in mind that most of the AT through-hikers hike this part of the trail going up.

     This is one of the best trails imaginable (going down!).  Begins at the Tower on Wayah Bald and comes on down to the campground at the hard road which is known as the Wayah Crest Campground.  It is about 4.1 miles and is an easy hike - but only if you go downhill!  Going up, like most AT hikers do, the trail becomes a difficult journey.  Drawbacks:  1) hiking the trail requires two vehicles; one to leave at the campground and the other at the top.  2) Road noise is a constant because it is never far from the gravel road which runs from the campground to the summit.  3) There is a rifle range  below the trail so it is possible that you will have the noise pollution of gun firings throughout the hike.

    My wife and I try to hike this trail during the peak of the leaf change, but it is a good hike in spring as well, and also good in summer and winter.  Photographs:  the trail does not offer much in the way of long range vista scenes, but intermediate and short vistas can be promising.  There are some unusual tree shapes on this trail and an excellent assortment of wildflowers.  Good vistas may be possible at the bald, both the loop and tower.  There is also a very nice picnic place at the loop (on top), an excellent one at the end, and a couple of good places en route (1:40 and 1:45).

Driving Route

From Franklin, you can take US 64 West.  If you get on U64W from US 441 South, you will turn right at the sign for Wayah Bald (about 3.8 miles from the 64/441 intersection), and then left on Wayah Road (about 2/10 of a mile from U64W).  It is approximately 9 miles to Wayah Gap, where you will turn right on a gravel road (FS Road 69) which dead ends in the Wayah Bald parking area

Hiking Trail

Min.    Items of interest.  Photographic Opportunities

    0    Downslope or rocky trail.  Land falls off to right

    5    X old logging road now used by forest service and visitors

  15    tree with horses’ face

  20    enter beech/ironwood forest also see the Twisted Tree

  25    Birch tree growing out of old chestnut stump - also dry wash

  30    an old birch tree

  35     running cedar along the ground

  50    tree with “feet” on the trail - also large chestnut stump

  55     big tree on right - also dry wash

1:00    wash at ironwood forest

1:10    begin turn to left - forest floor is level

1:15     X old road

1:20    wash X Bartram Trail/AT

1:25     view of mountains to left

1:30    Big turn to left - view of Siler Bald. Fall off Right, steep trail down to road

1:35    X gravel road to summit of Wayah Bald/AT

1:40    “Tree Cave” to left and small mound - Lunch Room

1:45    Rock on left, another good lunch room

1:50    X Trail to Wilson Lick/AT -Downhill - blowdown

2:00    Deep cove that goes around Hemlock tree

2:05    Meadow ahead (Near Shot Pouch Trail)

2:15    Huggable tree (would take about three huggers!) Then Weird Tree

2:25    Rippled tree

2:30    AT and gravel road touch each other

2:45    Steep descent to hard road

2:50     Wayah Crest Campground