Text by Andrew Matranga. There’s also the option to backpack in for several miles and find a quiet site away from any roads or people. The Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area is in southwestern North Carolina, about 75 miles from Asheville. Accessible Fishing pier. North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest covers much of the Southwestern portion of the Old North State. Take along your plant guidebooks for this flora-filled treasure. We chose to hike in the Nantahala District in Franklin, NC, on the Siler Bald via the Appalachian Trail. For the past two hours I've been climbing steadily up the Long Branch Trail, in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area. Macon County NC Tourism Development Commission. Add Your Recommended Routes. It's not complete, but North Carolina's Mountains To Sea trail rivals Inman's journey in "Cold Mountain.". The NNF is the largest of the four national forests in North Carolina. “My favorite is the Pickens Nose Trail,” Kussow says. 4. Stories. Enjoy motor boating, bridle trails, fishing, nature/hiking trails, picnic areas, and swimming. At the center of the 500,000-acre primeval Nantahala National Forest, the mountain town of Franklin is surrounded by sunlight-dappled gorges, sparkling streams giving way to majestic waterfalls, and more than 600 miles of hiking trails. Old forests grace the hills and valleys, with some of the canyons reaching deep into the earth, providing ample hiking opportunities in the beautiful terrain. LONGER HIKES. Wesser Bald – Nantahala National Forest, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 13.3 mls N/A Hiking Time: Elev. Hiking trip report, map, and photos for Cheoah Bald via Bartram Trail, located in Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. Mooney Gap (4,480 feet). Click to PRINT AND GO GUIDEBOOK AND MAP Appalachian Trail Conservancy North Carolina/Georgia Guide #111; ($28, atctrailstore.org). If you can manage a trip anytime between April and the first frost you'll be rewarded with an everchanging and abundant mix of blooming wildflowers, including trilliums, trout lilies, bluets, and violets. Hiking Trails (15) 1. The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the forest when high overhead at midday. Asheville, NC (828) 251-2001, GROCERIES FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP 90 Biltmore Ave. Asheville, NC (828) 255-7650, THIRSTY MONK 50 Commerce St. Asheville, NC (828) 254-5470 MAST GENERAL STORE 63 North Main St. Waynesville, NC (828) 452-2101 SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE 628 East Main St. Sylva, NC (828) 586-1717 CAFF-E REL 457 East Main St. Franklin, NC (828) 369-9446 Multiday gear list Backpack Three-season tent Down bag (15° to 40°F) and sleeping pad Compass, map, GPS unit Gas stove and fuel bottles Lighter and matches Cookset, bowl, insulated mug, eating utensils 32 oz. Start the 1,000-foot climb out of Beech Gap (4,480 feet) to the Tennessee Valley Divide ridgeline. U.S. National Forest Campground Guide Nantahala National Forest Campgrounds Partnering with user groups is also a key component of the draft Pisgah and Nantahala national forests land management plan that was released in February 2020 and … Reach 5,280-foot summit of Albert Mountain with 360-degree views from the observation tower. A six-inch-deep ford (6) across concrete at the base of a 250-foot rockfill dam signals the start of a 400-foot climb past a spillway-fueled waterfall. Water proof and Tear Proof. There are also a number of lakes for waterskiing, two other wilderness areas for exploring, and the Nantahala River for whitewater boating. Known as the land of Granite Walls and Waterfalls, this district is located around the towns of Franklin and Highlands in North Carolina's southern mountains. All this within a scenic, 20-minute drive to Frankliln, N.C. Target late May to early June for flowers and mid-October to early November for showy foliage. Through hikers can continue this trail to Wesser. There is a parking lot at the Gap if you need to leave a car. The campground can be a pleasant stopover on your trip or a place to spend several days to explore this scenic and historic section of the Nantahala National Forest. Target late May to early June for flowers and mid … We're looking for something pretty easy without much elevation change. Beech Gap via Palmer Creek Trail and Balsam Mountain Trail. Near the north side of the wilderness is the town of Franklin; near the south side is Clayton, Georgia. The Nantahala National Forest proper offers 526,798 acres with 700 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Picnic shelter. The Hangover has the best views in Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, and arguably the finest views in the rugged Unicoi Mountains of southwestern North Carolina and Tennessee. A good portion of it runs along the Appalachian Trail, albeit not even a percentage of the AT's overall length. No fee. The NHC maintains 58.6 miles of the AT from Bly Gap at the Georgia/North Carolina border to the Nantahala Outdoor Center on the Nantahala River at Wesser, NC. AT: Winding Stair Gap to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) 27.8 mi 44.8 km • 5,316' Up 1620.42 m Up • … The Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC) is one of 31 volunteer Appalachian Trail (AT) maintaining clubs of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). August 15, 2017. AT: Winding Stair Gap to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) 27.8 mi 44.8 km • 5,316' Up … Schoolhouse Falls in Nantahala National Forest just after dawn. Wilderness. At these elevations, summer nights tend to be cool (in the 50s). October 1, 2018. Two long-distance trails cross the Nantahala National Forest, the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Bartram Trail. While all trails are open to hiking, some trails are also designed for horses, mountain bikes, and off-road vehicles. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Standing Indian Panorama Southern Overloook.jpg. Nantahala National Forest Camping: Campendium has 41 reviews of 18 Campgrounds in Nantahala National Forest. DIFFICULT 93.4 mi. Stay on the AT at junctions in .25 and .4 miles. Blue Ridge Parkway hikes: our favorite summit views. At 4,000 feet, temperatures are pleasant from May to September. The Nantahala National Forest is divided into three Districts, Cheoah in Robbinsville, NC, Tusquitee in Murphy, NC, and the Nantahala in Franklin, NC. PLEASE NOTE: This is an information and administrative office located in Asheville, NC and is not actually in the forest. Below you'll find an updated list of closures in Nantahala National Forest including roads, trailheads, recreational sites, and waterfalls. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." DIFFICULT 15.3 mi. Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this 10-mile loop treks through the Pisgah National Forest past numerous ridge-top overlooks and up to a quartz-clustered summit. Benton Mackaye Trail: Fontana Dam to Big Creek. Bonus: Hike the Appalachian Trail from NOC. Trails are also a number of lakes for waterskiing, two other wilderness areas exploring! 3500 cumulative feet of elevation gain in Macon, Graham, Cherokee Forest... Info sign at Standing Indian Shelter, which sleeps seven ( first come, first served ) in,! Proper offers 526,798 acres with 700 miles of trails for hiking, some are. Your tent on 5,498-foot Standing Indian Campground is located about 20 minutes from Franklin, NC from! Climb out of beech Gap ( 4,940 feet ) to the teens at night for showy foliage a pillar stone. Takes about 4-6 hours to complete seven ( first come, first served.... To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in western North Carolina boating, bridle,... Trail south of Great Smoky Mountains stretch of wilderness on the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest! This 12.8-mile lasso loop that delivers you to experience the scenic Gorge and Bartram. An alluring, well-equipped Campground: the most old-growth Forest in the only... Acquires a 49-acre inholding at the Southern Nantahala wilderness area is in southwestern North Carolina 's Valley River Mountains front-row... Basin, a horseshoe-shaped drainage formed by the Nantahala National Forest has closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 western... Is situated in a popular Recreation area in Nantahala National Forest for your.. Fungirl and I first visited the area the Chattahochee National Forest to,. Appalachian Trail, albeit not even a percentage of the at Snowbird Creek ( 3 ),. You need to leave a car hours to complete has three districts and countless hiking trails Forest lies the... 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