DIRECTIONS
TO BIG BALD
-Take Interstate 26 to Exit 3 (U.S.
23A/Wolf Laurel ) , ~25 miles north of
Asheville, NC, or ~30 miles south of
Johnson City, TN.
-Turn
downhill at end of exit toward main
highway US 23 Alt S.
-Turn right
on US-23 Alt S.
-Take the
1st left onto State Rd 1503 at BIG
Wolf Laurel advertisement sign.
Drive only ~200 yards.
-Take the
1st left onto Puncheon Fork Rd for
~3.5 miles.
-Turn right
at Wolf Laurel Rd, go uphill to gate
~0.5 miles.
-Stop at the
gate and tell them "you are helping
with the bird project on Big Bald."
-Follow the
main pavement road uphill to a 'T'
intersection, ~1.5 mile.
(If you
drive past the Wolf Laurel Country
Club, you are going the wrong way!)
-Turn left
at 'T' intersection onto Big Bald
Road, and follow for ~2 miles uphill
(will turn to gravel).
-Park near
big metal gate that blocks the road.
-Walk up the road
past the gate ~ 1/4 mile to the gap
where the road makes a strong left
turn and the Appalachian Trail
crosses the road.
-Follow
white markers on fence posts along
trail to the north (to the right),
hiking up the smaller bald for ~ 1/2
mile.
-Look for
nets and banding table near large
boulders along the trail near the
summit of the smaller bald at the
edge of the trees.
Click here to view a
street map of Wolf Laurel
Click here to view a
topo map of Big Bald
