Things To Do
Water Sports & Activities
Endless River Adventures Specializing in Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking, and International Trips. Their commitment - We are not big, we are good; a small giant in the industry with quality and value a priority. Enjoy the personal service!
Nantahala Outdoor Center Established in 1972, NOC (an employee owned business) specializes in extraordinary outdoor recreation activites for you and your family including rafting, world-class paddling and canoe instruction, hiking, biking, fishing and much more.
Rolling Thunder River Company Over 25 years of excellence in whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River and the Nantahala River. Whether you are a novice, an experienced paddler, young or simply young at heart, they have a rafting trip that's right for you.
Smoky Mountain Jet Boat Rides Offering thrilling 35-40 minute rides on scenic Lake Fontana as well as combination trips, such as hike and jet boat ride trips that encompass everything that's great about Western North Carolina - hiking, picnicking, swimming and a thrilling jet boat ride.
Tubing on Deep Creek A fun activity for all ages - whitewater tubing, waterfalls, picnic area, hiking trails just 2 miles from Bryson City.
Wildwater Rafting Fully guided, guide assisted and rental trips available. A family-owned business since 1971. Offers Raft 'N Rail excursions which combines a scenic rail trip with beginning whitewater rafting. Jeep tours are available and a new canopy/zip line tour will be open July 18th.
Hiking and Biking
American Hikes Guided nature walks and hiking tours for all ages. This is a perfect opportunity to explore the history, mystery and wildlife of our National Parks. Each trail contains everything from the footprints of early settlers to the paw prints of the wildlife the Parks help protect. We highly recommend that you check out their website. There's something for everyone.
Appalachian Trail A 2,160 mile foot trail along the ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachia Mountains from Katahdin in the central Maine wilderness to Springer Mountain in a designated wilderness area in north Georgia. The trail is 8 miles from the Lodge.
Bartram Trail The North Carolina Bartram Trail, blazed in yellow, crosses over some of the most scenic mountains of the state, with many side trails, blazed in blue, leading to views of the Blue Ridge and the Smokies. Trail is within walking distance of the Lodge.
Nantahala Outdoor Center the name says it all - numerous outdoor activities available through NOC - hiking, biking, alpine climbing, etc. Bike rentals also available.
Tsali Recreation Area A mecca for mountain bikers and horseback riders. Suited for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, the 4-loop system offers a variety of landscapes.
Area Attractions & Fun Things To Do
Biltmore Estate Located in Asheville, North Carolina just 60 miles East of Bryson City. Plan to spend the day in this 250 room mansion built by George Vanderbilt in 1895. The vineyard and extensive gardens are unsurpassed.
Canopy Tours Offered by Wildwater Rafting - brand new three-hour experience gives you over 1/2 mile of air time with 3 sky bridges and 5 transfer bridges. More than a zip line ride, the Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours takes you through multiple ecosystems, past hemlocks, into hardwoods, and through a deciduous forest.
Cherokee Indian Reservation is the home of the descendants of those Cherokee who, in the late 1830's, remained in the mountains of North Carolina rather than be forced to march along the infamous "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma.
Clingmans Dome is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail and provides a 360° view of the surrounding mountains rising 6,643 feet above sea level.
Fontana Lake and Dam Located 35 miles West of Bryson City, is the highest dam east of the Rockies. Towering 480 feet in height this dam backs water for 30 miles and provides a major source of energy.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Established in 1934 covering 520,408 acres of land with heights ranging from 840 feet at Abrams Creek to 6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome. Don't miss these areas of the park: Oconaluftee Visitors Center, Mountain Farm Museum, Deep Creek, The Road to Nowhere, Fontana Lake North Shore, Mingus Mill and Cataloochee Valley.
Great Smoky Mountains Railway With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board will enjoy scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, into tunnels and through river gorges.
Jeep Tours A fun and adventurous way to see the beauty of Western North Carolina.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest A tribute to a hero whose poem “Trees” inspired millions. A walk through Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a journey back in time through a magnificent forest with towering trees as old as 400 years. Some enormous yellow-poplars are over 20 feet in circumference and stand 100 feet tall. The floor is carpeted with a garden of wildflowers, ferns, and moss-covered logs from fallen giants.
Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountains and valleys with elevations as high as 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to a low 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along the Tusquitee River.
Nantahala Outdoor Center Open Year Round - restaurants, outfitters store, general store, bike rentals, fly shop, and much more.
Nantahala Village Resort and Spa Great restaurant and lounge, full service spa and horse back riding.
Stecoah Valley Center located in the village of Stecoah on Hwy 28 N between Bryson City and Fontana Dam. Several studios, galleries and shops open daily with special events offered on a regular basis. It's a wonderful placeto view the work of local artists and craftsmen.
Scenic Roadways
Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of scenic roadway that connects the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Cherohala Skyway Drive above the clouds. Winding up and over 5,400 foot mountains for 15 miles in North Carolina and descending another 21 miles into the deeply forested backcountry of Tennessee. The road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests thus the name "Chero...hala". The Skyway is becoming well known in motorcycling and sportscar circles for its long, sweeping corners and scenic views.
Deals Gap / Tail of the Dragon World-famous among motorcyclists and sports car drivers, for its eleven-mile section with 318 continuous curves.
Mountain Waters Scenic Byway takes you from Highlands to Fontana Lake. The Byway follows U.S. 64, old U.S. 64, Wayah Road, and U.S. 19. Approximately 61 miles of nationally-recognized byway winds through southern Appalachian hardwood forests, by numerous waterfalls and lakes and through two river gorges.
Gem Mining
Cherokee Ruby Mine a natural and unsalted mine in the beautiful Cowee Valley in Franklin. This is one of the last native gemstone only mines open to the public.
You will also find "salted Mines" in the Nantahala Gorge.
Horseback Riding
Area Chamber of Commerce Websites:
Bryson City Chamber of Commerce
Graham County Chamber of Commerce
