Maddron Bald in the GSMNP (Cocke Co.) is a heath bald (hell). Just into NC are Bob & Stratton Bald, Hooper Bald, and Max Patch. Just into Virginia is Mt Rogers . Balds on the NC side of the Smoky mountains park include Andrews Bald and Hemphill Bald, see GSMNP landforms. Some old (1920's) black&white images of balds from Dutch Roth's collection.

"Why are the balds bald?"
There are dozens of high elevation "balds" in the Southern Appalachians. In the Smokies, as well as other areas, farmers would drive their livestock to the highest balds in the summer. This grazing would keep many of the balds free of trees. Today, maintenance of the balds is sometimes the only reason that some of these balds still exist. Researchers have looked for evidence of bald creation through burning, grazing, climatic factors related to the Wisconsin glaciation, impacts of Native Americans and colonial settlers, and effects of mega-fauna during the last ice age. The origin of balds remains a mystery, and balds management issues are continually debated. (Reference: Tennessee Conservationist).

See Wikipedia's Appalachian balds or GSMNP History of the grassy balds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park