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Explore the iconic Alum Cave Bluffs nestled deep in the Great Smoky Mountains. The trail ascends 1125 feet over a 4.4-mile round trip. Directions to Location  From the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee head North on US-441 towards Gatlinburg\/Pigeon Forge for 19.8 Miles…

A well-maintained 3.6-mile there-and-back hike with sweeping views of the North Carolina Mountains, ascending 900 feet. Directions to Location From the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee head North on US-441 for 15.5 Miles Turn left onto Clingmans Dome Road and travel 6.4…

A serene 6-mile trek perfect for casual hikers with plenty of shade along the way. Camping opportunities are available along the Chattooga River. Directions to Location From the intersection of NC 107 and US 64 in Cashiers, drive 7 miles south on NC 107 Turn right on Bull Pen…

A scenic 2.5-mile there-and-back trail located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, featuring wildflowers and chirping birds. Directions to Location Follow US-23 N \/ US 74 \/ Great Smoky Mountains Expressway for 10.7 Miles to Balsam Gap Blue Ridge Parkway Entrance Turn Left onto Blue…

Black Balsam Trail scales Black Balsam Knob, one of the greatest hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway with treeless mountaintops. Directions to Location  Drive East on US 23/74 for 8.9 miles  Turn left to enter the Blue Ridge Parkway  Proceed toward Asheville to…

A short but strenuous half-mile trail to a summit with panoramic views of four states. Directions to Location  Drive east on US 23/74 for 8.9 miles  Turn left to enter the Blue Ridge Parkway  Proceed toward Asheville to milepost 422.4 Trails and Waterfalls can be…

A short but steep climb to the top of the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6643 feet. Directions to Location  From the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee head North on US-441 for 15.5 Miles  Turn left onto Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans…

A leisurely 5.8-mile there-and-back hike through the Smokies, traversing the crystal-clear waters of Mingus Creek. Directions to Location  From the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee head North on US-441 for .7 Miles  Turn Left and follow signs for Mingus Mill…

One of the most difficult hikes in the Smokies, ascending 3000 feet over a 12-mile round trip, with stunning views from Myrtle Point. Directions to Location  From the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee head North on US-441 towards Gatlinburg\/Pigeon Forge for 19.8 Miles…

A family favorite, this 1.5-mile long trail runs along the Oconaluftee River, offering scenic views and wildlife spotting opportunities. Directions to Location  Walk behind the visitor center  Head towards the Mountain Farm Museum  Picked up the trail at the far…

A well-marked trail that offers panoramic views from Old Bald Ridge, suitable for all hikers. Directions to Location  From downtown Sylva, turn on Grindstaff Cove Road and follow it past the Justice Center to its intersection with US 23 North/US 74 East  Travel…

Known as the 'Yosemite of the East,' this trail offers scenic riverside hikes and waterfall views within 6311 acres of rugged backcountry land. Directions to Location: Salt Rock Gap Trailhead From the NC 107/US 64 junction in Cashiers, take US 64 east for 2 miles to…

A 7-mile trek ascending more than 3000 feet, offering incredible views of the mountains from the top. Directions to Location: From downtown Sylva, turn left onto Business 23 (Asheville Highway) at its intersection with NC 107. Turn left again onto Skyland Drive at…

A 1.5-mile loop trail through a spruce-fir forest, climbing about 700 feet to the highest peak on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Directions to Location  From downtown Sylva, turn left on Grindstaff Cove Road and follow it past the Justice Center to its intersection with US 23…

A one-mile trail along the Tuckasegee River, offering recreational opportunities for runners, walkers, and cyclists. Directions to Location : 1. From downtown Sylva, head south on NC-107 S 2. Travel approximately 1.5 miles 3. Turn left onto Old Cullowhee Road 4. Drive about 0.5…

A steep 1.2-mile round trip hike to the 6292-foot summit, with several vantage points offering views up to 50 miles. Directions to Location From downtown Sylva, turn left on Grindstaff Cove Road and follow it past the Justice Center to its intersection with US 23 North/US 74 East…

A 1.33-mile hike to a grassy gap, popular for blueberry picking and easy hiking, with a view of Caney Fork Valley. Directions to Location From downtown Sylva, turn left on Grindstaff Cove Road and follow it past the Justice Center to its intersection with US 23 North/US 74 East…

A moderate 2-mile loop trail offering panoramic views from the 4930-foot crest of Whiteside Mountain, featuring the highest cliffs in the eastern U.S. Directions to Location From downtown Sylva, travel south on NC 107 to the intersection of NC 107 and US 64 in Cashiers To climb…

A challenging 12-mile round trip trail with a fire tower at the top, offering stunning 360-degree views of the terrain below. Directions to Location From the intersection of NC 107 and US 64 in Cashiers, drive 7.3 mi west on US 64 Turn right on Buck Creek and go 2.2 miles…

Overview: You’ve heard of walking behind a waterfall, right? Well, how would you like to drive behind one? At Bridal Veil Falls, you can do just that. The road that goes behind the falls—the original route of US 64—was engineered to take advantage of the…

Hike Description: Hike to Greenland Creek Falls and look for the path climbing the bank beside the falls on river right. Make sure you have both hands free, and take a deep breath before you start the ridiculously steep climb. You’ll come to a boulder on the right where a…

Hike Description: Begin on Bradley Fork Trail at the gate. The trail is an old park auto road that follows the lazy Bradley Fork, so it’s wide and has easy grades. At 1.18 miles, you’ll come to a fork. Turn right on Chasteen Creek Trail. You’ll soon pass a…

Hike Description: The trail begins across the road and follows an old logging railroad grade down the river-right side of the creek. After about 0.3 mile, it starts to swing right and passes an obvious side path on the left. The side path leads to the base of the falls. Overview…

Overview: The Cullasaja River takes a final plunge over Cullasaja Falls before leaving the gorge and leveling out. What a final statement it makes! If the river’s up, this is about as good as it gets. On the other hand, I’ve seen it when little water was going over…

Hike Description: Follow the obvious paved path from the lower end of the parking area down to the falls. A new handicapped-accessible boardwalk also leads from the parking area to a viewpoint for the falls. Overview: The idea is to walk behind the falls without getting…

Hike Description: You’ll descend on Panthertown Valley Trail (#474) from the gate for 0.3 mile to Salt Rock, which offers a wide-open view of the valley. Continue descending on the road. At 0.59 mile, you’ll reach a fork. The road to the left provides the easiest…

Hike Description: You’ll descend on Panthertown Valley Trail (#474) from the gate for 0.3 mile to Salt Rock, which offers a wide-open view of the valley. Continue descending on the road. At 0.59 mile, you’ll reach a fork. The right fork leads to Frolictown Falls and…

Directions to Trailhead: See the Panthertown Valley introduction for directions to the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead, on the east side. This hike starts on Macs Gap Trail (#482), which begins to the left immediately after the turn off Cold Mountain Road. Parking is limited, so you…

Hike Descriptions: From the upper trailhead, the hike begins at the gate on High Falls Trail. You’ll descend on the gravel road for just under 0.2 mile, then turn right on the obvious trail. The trail descends a little over 0.6 mile to the falls. It is well graded and easy…

Directions to Trailhead: Same as for Tom Branch Falls. Hike Description: Hike to Tom Branch Falls and continue on Deep Creek Trail to the junction with Indian Creek Trail on the right at 0.73 mile. Hike Indian Creek Trail for 100 yards to the side path on the left that leads down…

Directions to Trailhead: See the Panthertown Valley introduction for directions to the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead, on the east side. Hike Description: Hike as you would to Wardens Falls, but continue to the right on Devils Elbow Trail when you get to the small clearing beyond…

Directions to Trailhead: Same as for Tom Branch Falls. Hike Description: The trail starts from the upper end of the parking area. A sign here calls it Juney Whank Loop Trail. You’ll climb steeply to the junction with Deep Creek Horse Trail at 400 feet. Turn right and…

Directions: From the junction of US 64, US 276, and NC 280 in Brevard, drive north on US 276 for 5.65 miles to the long, narrow parking area on the right. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is 9.35 miles to the falls. You can view the waterfall from an overlook on the upper end of…

Directions to Trailhead: From the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Newfound Gap Road (US 441) in the Smokies, drive south (toward Cherokee) on Newfound Gap Road for 0.5 mile and turn left on Saunooke Bridge Road. Go 0.2 mile to where the road ends at Big Cove Road and turn…

Directions to Trailhead: From the junction of US 64, US 276, and NC 280 in Brevard, drive north on US 276 for 5.7 miles to the small parking area on the right just before the bridge over Looking Glass Creek. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is 8.3 miles to the trailhead. Hike…

A 150-foot waterfall in Gorges State Park, often featuring vibrant rainbows on sunny days. Directions to Location : 1. Travel east on US 64 toward Sapphire for 10.1 miles 2. Turn right (south) onto NC 281 and travel 0.9 miles to the Gorges State Park entrance 3. Travel 1 mile on…

Hike Description: Begin the hike on the far western end of the parking area between the information kiosk and the paved trail leading to the Clingmans Dome tower. You’ll descend on Forney Ridge Trail for 275 yards to a junction with Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail. Turn left…

Hike Description: Walk 0.2 mile along the gravel drive to Caney Fork. This section of the hike is through private property, so behave yourself. Before Hurricanes Frances and Ivan swept through in September 2004, there was a bridge over Caney Fork. Now, you’ll have to wade…

Hike Description: The trail leading from the parking area is easily followed. You’ll climb via switchbacks and follow a small drainage for a short distance before crossing the branch and swinging around to cross Left Prong at 0.4 mile. After crossing, you’ll climb…

Directions to Trailhead: See the Panthertown Valley introduction for directions to the Cold Mountain Gap trailhead, on the east side. Hike Description: Take the trail to the right of the information kiosk and follow it 0.15 mile to an old dirt road. Turn left on the road…

Hike Description: An obvious path starts beside the American holly tree at the lower end of the pullout. The path goes about 500 feet to a footbridge over the Whitewater River. From there, it’s a short distance to the base of the falls. Overview: Everyone loves Silver Run…

A rare double waterfall with a 120-foot cascade, located near Cherokee. Directions to Location : 1. From downtown Sylva, merge onto US-74 W (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) toward Cherokee 2. Travel approximately 13 miles and take exit 74 for US-441 N toward Cherokee 3. Drive…

Hike Description: The trail, a continuation of the paved road, turns to gravel beyond the turnaround. If you’re hiking in summer, pay close attention because you’ll walk right by the waterfall if the sign is missing. Look for a little clearing at a large oak tree…

Hike Description: From the turnaround at the lower end of the parking area, a paved path leads to an upper overlook of the falls. Ignore the inaccurate sign that says it’s 0.5 mile to the falls. It’s actually less than 0.25 mile to the overlook. The path…