Winding stair gap to NOC

[Josh Calhoun]

i am having trouble finding where the access point at winding stair gap is. can anyone help me with this? i believe it is right off of a highway. and if so is there a sign showing the AT Crossing?

[Gray Blazer]

i am having trouble finding where the access point at winding stair gap is. can anyone help me with this? i believe it is right off of a highway. and if so is there a sign showing the AT Crossing?

This is an easy one. On Highway 64 west out of Franklin, right when you get to the top, there are pullouts on either side and there is an AT sign with the backpacker symbol on it. Hard to miss. If you start going down, you have passed it.

[RWheeler]

It's down the highway towards Franklin a little bit (compared to the southern trailhead, anyway), just before what I remember to be an access road with a gate. Look where the guardrail drops down.

[Tenderheart]

The access point is about 9 miles from Franklin, NC on US 64 toward Hayesville. There is a sign, but the best way is to look for a truck pull off at the top of the climb. The pull off will be on your left coming from Franklin. Hope this helps.

[RWheeler]

I should point out that my directions are if you're at the trailhead that you can take to hike South.

[Whack-a-mole]

If you are driving down the road and not paying attention you can blow right by this. It is very obvious if you are paying attention, but start listening to a jamming song, or "zone out" cause you've been driving 4 hours, you can miss it. If you see a gray Honda element there on Fri morning, say hello as that will be me starting a NB section! My wife will be dropping me off. I don't know what I'd do with out her!

[Josh Calhoun]

you should be a day ahead of me wackamole. i wont get dropped off until early sat morning. i will follow the foot prints haha

[Whack-a-mole]

I'm not the fastest hiker in the world, so keep an eye out for me. I'm 6-3 250lbs, short dark hair, glasses, blue osprey pack. If you see me give me a shout.

[JaxHiker]

The spring there is awesome!

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[Josh Calhoun]

thanks for the help everybody.

@wackamole. i am going to try and do 15 sat and 15 sun and spend monday drinking beer and hanging out at NOC. but plans always change. if i see you i will give you a shout. im 6'2 long hair with a green ULA catalyst. see you on the trail

[Kerosene]

Great time of year to backpack this section. Hope you have good weather.

[daddytwosticks]

I'm hiking from Wayah Gap to the NOC starting on Saturday afternoon and ending right in time for a burger at the restaurant on Monday. Maybe I'll see you all out there. Happy hiking.

[Josh Calhoun]

sounds like its going to be a little white blaze reunion out there haha.