Fly fishing for Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout is unlimited in the Great Smoky Mountains. Choose wading, floating, catch-and-release, or keeping, and conditions.
Swim, boat, paddleboard, and fish in the clear mountain lakes like Nantahala and Santeetlah. For a deeper nature experience, consider a lakeside camping trip at Fontana Lake.
Travel the 98-mile Waterfall Byway on Rte. 64 to view over 200 waterfalls. Many falls are accessible directly from parking areas, making it easy to enjoy their beauty without extensive hiking.
Western North Carolina offers diverse hiking trails with stunning scenery. From challenging hikes with panoramic views to trails perfect for bird-watching and wildflower viewing, there’s a trail for everyone.
The NC Great Smoky Mountains is a prime location for mountain biking, with exhilarating trails like those at Tsali Recreation Area. Enjoy 40 miles of off-road biking with thrilling single tracks and scenic views.
More than 120 NOC activities include ziplining, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.
Cataloochee Valley elk now roam freely after nearly going extinct. View these beautiful animals from a respectful distance in the morning or afternoon.
Enjoy a leisurely horseback ride through North Carolina’s national forests, immersing yourself in nature’s sights and sounds at a relaxed pace.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Nantahala National Forest is an undisturbed old-growth forest. Since 1936, it has been a natural asset protected from logging and development.