Hike Joanna Bald Fire Tower in North Carolina

What to bring

Day-hike essentials for this trail. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Joanna Bald Fire Tower in the Cherokee National Forest is a short 1-mile hike to a historic lookout tower with long views over the Tennessee-North Carolina border country — barely a workout, but the tower and the ridgeline setting are worth the stop if you’re already in the area.

What to Expect

The trail is short and climbs through mixed hardwood forest to the summit. The fire tower is metal, open, and in decent condition. From the top you see across the Unicoi Mountains and Hiwassee River valley into North Carolina. The bald itself has limited open area — most vegetation has grown back — so the tower is the primary viewpoint.

The Cherohala Skyway runs near this trail, and a day combining the Skyway drive with a few short hikes to towers and overlooks makes for a strong fall trip in the Tennessee Appalachians.

Difficulty

Easy. 1 mile round trip with modest gain. This is a quick stop, not a destination hike. Pair it with something longer nearby.

Best Time to Go

October — the Unicoi Mountains have excellent fall color and the tower views capture the full ridge-and-valley color pattern. Spring wildflowers are good in the lower Cherokee NF in April. Summer is fine but the tower view is better with fall clarity.

Before You Go

Cherokee National Forest, no fee. Tellico Plains, TN is the nearest town. About 7 hours from DC — this is Southern Appalachians territory, plan a multi-day trip.

Best Hiking Season

Jan

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