Nature trails, parks and scenic roadways abound in Western North Carolina. Walk the Appalachian Trail; explore the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Nantahala National Forest, or Pisgah National Forest; or drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, or
Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. There is fun for everyone in Western NC.
Check out the Wheels Through Time Museum motorcyle musuem that's just done the road. Take a trip through time and admire old and classic motorcylces
from all eras.
EagleRider of Knoxville
Rent a Harley Davidson, ATV, Dirt Bike or Watercraft at Daily and Weekly Rates at EagleRider of Knoxville EagleRider of Knoxville is the gateway to
The Great Smoky Mountains, The Blue Ridge Parkway, The Dragon's Tail, The Cherohala Skyway and other great rides.
1-866-805-RIDE
865-560-0088
Scenic Drives - Blue Ridge Parkway
Last year visitation to the Blue Ridge Parkway eclipsed 22 million, tops in the entire National Park system. Not that this came as a surprise. Since
the first section of the scenic motor road opened to public travel more than 60 years ago, the Parkway has recorded some 700 million visits. That's a
stunning number, to be sure, but then the Parkway is a wonderfully stunning resource.
Scenic Drives - Forest Heritage Scenic Byway
The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway makes a large loop around the Pisgah National Forest area traveling US 276 and State Highway 215. Along the southern end,
it overlaps with US 64. This is a very beautiful and poplar route especially during the fall colors.
Scenic Drives - Mountain Waters Scenic Byway
The Mountain Waters Scenic Byway is a windy 61 mile drive through much of the Nantahala National Forest. Mountains surpassing 5,000 feet, cascading waterfalls,
towering hardwood forests and whitewater foaming over the backs of boulders are the sights awaiting you.
Waterfalls - Maggie Valley area waterfalls
The Abbey Inn has put together some links to a few local waterfalls; Sliding Rock, Looking Glass, Cullasaaja, Dry, Bridal Veil and Courthouse waterfalls.
Waterfalls - Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock is a naturally occurring 60-foot waterslide with a seven-foot deep pool that has been developed by the US Forest Service into a recreation area.
Waynesville Live
Waynesville North Carolina's Community Website including live area webcams, chat, links to local businesses, attractions, real estate, demographics,
churches, calendars, weather, games, events, gallery, free email service, classifieds, local news
Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum
A consummate collection of over 250 rare antique American Motorcycles and Automobiles. Equally as astounding is the memorabilia collection that unites the
"art of the motorcycle" with the generation of Americans that enjoyed a lifestyle peculiar to the "American Mainstream."
828-926-6266
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,160-mile foot trail along the ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in the central
Maine wilderness to Springer Mountain in a designated wilderness area in north Georgia.
304-535-6331
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a senic roadway, which travels 469 miles to connect the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. With elevations ranging from 650 feet to over 6000 feet be prepared for rapidly changing weather. You should allow 2-3 days
to travel from the beginning to the end with frequent stops, so that you will be able to enjoy some of the wonders of the Parkway.
828-298-0398
Cataloochee Valley
A large section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is contained in the northern part of Haywood County, principally the Catallochee Valley. Today,
the remaining buildings provide a look back at life before the park opened in 1943. Cataloochee Valley is one of the best kept secrets in the North Carolina
mountains. It is very secluded and peaceful. If you are planning to go there, four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. It's well worth the trip. There
are no hotels, motels, restaurants in there, so you may want to pack a picnic and take your own beverages. You will see a 95 year old home, an old church,
and an old one-room school house. Now, let's go visit!
865-436-1200
828-497-1900
Cherohala Skyway
The planning stage of the Cherohala Skyway began in 1958 and, after 30 plus years of construction and 100 million dollars, opened October 12, 1996. This paved
two-lane road climbs to elevations over 5300 feet and extends over 50 miles. In April 1997, the state of North Carolina declared it a Scenic Byway and it
later became one of only twenty highways deserving the distinction of "National Scenic Byway".
800-470-3790
Clingmans Dome
Rising 6,643 feet above the Great Smoky Mountains, Clingmans Dome is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail and provides a 360º view of the surrounding
mountians. From it's 54 foot observation tower the average viewing distance is about 22 miles, but on a clear pollution free day, views can amplify as far as
100 miles into 7 states.
423-436-1200
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, established in 1934, covers 520,408 acres of land with heights ranging from 840 feet at Abrams Creek to 6,643 feet at
Clingmans Dome. Although not advertised as highly as the Tennessee side, the North Carolina side offers many great hiking and horseback riding trails at Deep
Creek, Round Bottom, Smokemont and at the end of The Road To Nowhere.
423-436-1200
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a tribute to a hero whose poem "Trees" inspired millions. Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action in France in W.W.I, has a
living memorial in his memory, the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
828-479-6431
Mountain Waters Scenic Byway
Beginning in Highlands, this approximately 61 miles of nationally-recognized byway winds through southern Appalachian hardwood forests, by numerous waterfalls
and lakes and through two river gorges.
828-526-3765
Nantahala National Forest
Nantahala is an Indian name meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." This name is most appropriate as the sun only reaches the floor of the deep gorges and valleys
when directly overhead at midday.
828-524-6441
Pisgah National Forest
The Pisgah National Forest consists of over half a million acres of forest surrounding Mt. Pisgah. The beginnings of the Pisgah National Forest occurred
when George Vanderbilt, the grandson of railroad baron, Cornelius Vanderbilt, assembled property around his growing estate at the confluence of the Swannanoa
and French Broad Rivers in western North Carolina.
828-622-3202