Andrews Bald, Mountain summit in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, US
Andrews Bald is a mountain summit in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that reaches 5,920 feet above sea level and serves as the highest grassy meadow in the park. The open grassland sits not on the actual peak but spreads across the southern slope instead.
The mountain's grassy character was shaped by regular cattle grazing during the 19th century until the national park's establishment in the 1930s ended this practice. The grasslands today owe their form to this long period of human management.
The summit takes its name from Andres Thompson, an early settler who hunted across these highland meadows. The name connects the place to the people who once lived and worked in these mountains.
Access comes via the Forney Ridge Trail starting from a parking area and passing through high-elevation forest. Visitors should prepare for a strenuous walk and changing weather conditions at this altitude.
The grassy meadow does not sit at the highest point but on a slope below it, setting this place apart from typical peaks. This unusual arrangement allows expansive views from gentler terrain.
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