Best Hikes to Enjoy Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage
Experience nature’s best show by hiking through a kaleidoscope of flaming colors. Here are our favorite fall hikes in the NC Smokies.
One Year After Hurricane Helene – The Great Smoky Mountains
Next month will mark the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s unforgettable impact across the Smoky Mountains. Recovery continues in the hardest-hit areas, but destinations in the Smokies region are open and enthusiastically welcoming visitors. Roads and trails are open, businesses are bustling, and autumn is arriving in all its richness. This season is vibrant, […]
Summer Family Fun in the Smokies
The kids are out of school, and those unused vacation days are piling up, so it’s time to plan your visit to the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina! Any time of year here can be pretty magical, but summer family fun in the Smokies has lots of treats. Between hiking, biking, zip-lining, and rafting, […]
Visitors Guide to Gorges State Park in Sapphire, NC
Explore 7,500-acres of natural beauty at the Gorges State Park in Sapphire, NC. Here you’ll find rushing rivers, sheer rock faces, plummeting waterfalls, deep gorges, and rare species of flora and fauna. Trails & Waterfalls Gorges is known for the multitude of beautiful waterfalls located throughout the park. Turtleback Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Bearwallow Falls […]
Explore the Jackrabbit Mountain Trails
Your Trail Quest in the NC Great Smoky Mountains begins with the Jackrabbit Mountain Trail System near Hayesville, NC. Opened in 2011, this system incorporates 14 miles of scenic trails through the southern portion of the lush and tranquil Nantahala National Forest. Although originally created with mountain-biking in mind, the trails are also open to […]
Shadow of the Bear in the Great Smoky Mountains
From February through March, and then again in November, a natural, can’t-be-missed phenomenon happens in the Great Smoky Mountains of Jackson County, NC. The Shadow of the Bear occurs when the sun hits a certain point in the sky and a distinct, bear-shaped shadow appears across the mountains. When, Where, and How To Experience The […]
Exploring the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County, N.C., inspires the kind of hushed awe that can only be found in rare old-growth forests. Widely undiscovered by most, this forest, part of the Nantahala National Forest, lives under the protective watch of the US Forest Service and has remained untouched by logging and development since […]
Can’t Miss Adventures in the Smokies
The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina are a dream destination for lovers of the great outdoors. With stunning year-round views that stretch for miles, thrilling whitewater adventure, Southern Appalachian culture and live entertainment, it can difficult to squeeze everything in to only one weekend. Here are some ideas to help you maximize your time while […]
Our Five Favorite Spring Hikes in the NC Smokies
Spring is the perfect season to get out on the trails and immerse yourself in the scenic beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Wildflowers are in bloom, wildlife is emerging from winter dens, birds are singing from the tree branches, and waterfalls are gushing with the spring rains. Here are five of our favorite hiking trails […]
Whiteside Mountain among ’25 Best Fall Hiking Trails’
Wow, one of my favorite hikes was just named one of the “25 Best Fall Hiking Trails: Our Favorite Fall Hikes in the U.S.” by Conde Nast Traveler. Whiteside Mountain, in Cashiers! The online article noted, “For a small $2 parking fee, hikers on this two-mile-plus loop are rewarded with majestic views of the Blue […]