Wayah Bald

Wayah Bald is a high-altitude treeless open area in Nantahala National Forest, near Franklin, North Carolina.

The Wayah Bald Observation Tower is located at the area's highest point (5,385 feet); the stone observation tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 for fire detection.

Wayah Bald is a popular destination for hikers,[2] especially during spring, when the rhododendron and azaleas are in bloom.

It was named "Waya", 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.