North Toe River
The North Toe River is a large stream in the North Carolina High Country. The name Toe is taken from its original name Estatoe, pronounced 'S - ta - toe', a native American name associated with the Estatoe trade route leading down from the North Carolina mountains through Brevard. There is a historical plaque in Brevard with information that affirms the route, which continues into South Carolina, where a village of the same name was located. Due to difficulty in pronouncing the name it was shortened over the years to Toe.
The headwaters begin between Bald Mountain and Sugar Mountain, what is known as Sugar Gap, in Avery County. The river proceeds southwest through Mitchell County, joining with the South Toe River, before merging with the Cane River to form the Nolichucky River in Yancey County.Hydrography
