14 miles Buckeye Creek to Wallace Branch
Section 3 is a 14-mile road walk or bike ride,
with option of a 9-mile canoe section on the Little Tennessee River.
Overview
Section 3 of the North Carolina Bartram Trail leaves the Fishhawk Mountains crosses the Little Tennessee River Valley in a northwesterly direction to the Nantahala Mountains. In doing so, the trail temporarily leaves the national forest, passes through privately owned land and skirts the town of Franklin. For thru-hikers (or bike riders), this means following a14-mile country-road route (dotted red line on map) from the Buckeye Creek Trailhead in the Fishhawks to the Wallace Branch Trailhead in the Nantahalas. In addition to this hiking/biking route, the Bartram Trail Society has also designated an 11-mile portion of the Little Tennessee River from Otto to Franklin as a canoe section of the Bartram Trail (solid red line on map). Both the hiking/biking/canoeing routes are described below.
Directions to Trailhead
Buckeye Creek Trailhead:
From Franklin: From the US441/US64 junction south of Franklin, drive south on US 441 for 7 miles to Otto and turn left onto Tessentee Rd. Drive 3.8 miles to SR 1640, on left. Take SR 1640 for 0.6 miles, passing houses. Continue into the forest on gravel road for 0.1 mile to the trailhead parking area, on right (private property on left). From there, the Bartram Trail follows the logging road up past the Forest Service gate. Gravel parking lot on the right.
From Dillard area: Drive north of GA line on GA246/US441 for 5.2 miles and turn right onto Tessentee Road. Drive 3.8 miles to SR 1640, on left. Take SR 1640 for 0.6 miles, passing houses. Continue into the forest on gravel road for 0.1 mile to the trailhead parking area, on right (private property on left). From there, the Bartram Trail follows the logging road up past the Forest Service gate. Gravel parking lot on the right.
Wallace Branch Trailhead:
From the US441/US64 junction south of Franklin, drive west on US64 for 1.0 miles and turn right onto Sloan Rd. (SR1153). In 0.2 miles you will pass the Nantahala Ranger Station on the right and in 0.1 miles, come to an intersection. Cross this intersection to Pressley Rd. (SR1315) and go 1.7 miles to the end and a parking area for the Wallace Branch Trailhead. Parking capacity: around 6 vehicles.
