Location: Madison County along the NC/TN state line

Access:  From Shelton Laurel Community, NC 212 and N on Hickey Fork Road (Cty 1310) to FS road 465 going N to NC/Tn line in the narrow corridor between Seng Ridge on the SW and Big Creek on the NE, together known as the Bald Mountains.  Also NC 212 to Big Creek Road (FS 111) to FS trail 285 leading to NC/Tn line and AT.  Also NC 212 to Deep Gap and AT at the E end of the Big Creek wild area.  From NC 208 approx. 3 miles SE of state line, Pounding Mill Trail (FS 297) climbs NE into the Seng Ridge wild area.

USGS Topographic Quadrangles:   Greystone (western), Flag Pond (eastern), White Rock (Seng Ridge)

Features/Description/Potential:  Steep drainage to the SE from the NC/TN ridgeline.  AT follows NC/TN line.  Big Creek or Fork Ridge trail (FS 285) at Jerry's Cabin on AT at 4300 ft drops S to Big Creek at 2500 ft.  E side of Big Creek wild area bordered by Green and Blackpine Ridges as high as 4800 ft.  100+ year-old stands are reported SW of the Jerry's cabin area and also to the SE along Green Ridge.  The Pounding Mill Trail (FS 297) (poorly maintained) traverses the Seng Ridge wild area, climbing NE from NC 208 along Pounding Mill Branch to Pounding Mill Gap and then N to Seng Gap at the NE end of Seng Ridge to a junction with a trail (FS 292) coming up the West Prong of Hickey Fork from the Shelton Laurel area and NC 212.  From Seng Gap the trail runs NNE to Camp Creek Bald and the state line at 4844 ft.  The White Oak Flats trail (FS 293) joins the Pounding Mill trail just 3/4 mile below the state line, and runs E to Hickey Fork and the East Prong Road (FS 465).  The 1 mile neck SW of Big Creek connecting to Seng Ridge contains AT and Whiterock Cliffs with spectacular views, and peregrine falcons.
     Big Creek was proposed for wilderness by Sierra Club and others.  Residents of nearby Shelton Laurel have been upset (in the 1990's) by the amount of timber harvesting on this district, especially clearcutting. They may have become more receptive to the idea of Wilderness. The local Western NC Alliance Chapter wasvery active and appeared willing to support such an idea.  Big Creek wild area is undisturbed by cutting so far.
     Seng Ridge and Big Creek are truly wild areas.  There are bear dens on the NW slopes of Bearpen Ridge.  The area S of Seng Ridge wild area has old trees, rock outcrops and bear dens.  Very steep.  Road (following E Prong of Hicky Fork) coming in from SW is a 2-wheel road to the Gap, then 4-wheel to NC/Tn ridge in the corridor between the two wild areas.  N side of road is designated old growth by the ranger district.  The area facing the community of Shelton Laurel is very steep.  The  area up to N Flat Creek is too rough to log.  It is rich cove area with ramps, trillium.  East Prong has brook trout.  Full of grouse.  Little Laurel Creek is very wild.
    Big Creek wild area adjoins Bald Mtns Scenic Area and Horse Creek Recreation  Area in TN Cherokee NF - total protected area could be over 25,000 acres.   Seng Ridge not protected on TN side.  (Was the Jenning Creek RARE II  area in TN)
 

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Blackstack Cliffs from below, just west of Appalachian Trail	View west into Tennessee from Blackstack Cliffs

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