Sapphire, North Carolina
Top Spots in and near Sapphire
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Lakemont, Georgia
Minnehaha Falls
4.20.39 mi / 98 ft gainDespite their beauty, not many hikers know about Minnehaha Falls. Even more shocking, these are some of the most accessible falls in all of North Georgia. Round trip, the hike to the falls will only take about a half a mile. Hikers can park along the side of the road at the trailhead. Follow the ...Read more -
Clarkesville, Georgia
Panther Creek Falls
3.77.27 mi / 659 ft gainPark at the Panther Creek Recreation Area. The fee to park here is $4. There is extra parking alongside the road if the parking lot is full. The trail begins opposite the parking area, noted by a wooden sign. The trail gains elevation here and there with several drop-offs secured by cable cord f...Read more -
Waynesville, North Carolina
Explore Cataloochee Valley
5.0History, solitude and wildlife abound in this quiet corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but getting here is not easy. Take the scenic route via Cove Creek Road from Cosby, TN. Drive 40 miles along the twisting, gravel road to Cataloochee, NC. The scenery along the way is outstanding, b...Read more -
Greenville, South Carolina
Hike Swamp Rabbit Trail to Reedy River Falls
4.53 mi / 100 ft gainSwamp Rabbit Trail is a 21 mile-long paved walkway that closely follows the Reedy River in Downtown Greenville. Over a half-a-million people visit the trail each year, but few ever walk the whole thing. What most people don’t know, is that it begins on a different river: the Enoree river and wind...Read more -
Clarkesville, Georgia
Paddle Lake Burton
3.0Lake Burton is, in my opinion, Georgia's most scenic large lake. It is completely surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and has some of the clearest water in the state. Moccasin Creek State Park is a great launching point for all of your paddling adventures, whether you own your own vessel or ...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Southern Smokies: Fontana Lake to Clingman's Dome
4.520.39 mi / 5750 ft gainThis is a strenuous (though not technical) hike that really showcases the forests, creeks, and (eventually) the highest point of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As this is a point-to-point route, you will want to have two vehicles - one that you can leave at Clingman's Dome and one that you ...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Charlies Bunion via Kephart Loop
14.14 mi / 3671 ft gainCharlies Bunion via Kephart Loop is a loop trail located near Cherokee, North Carolina. This is a longer version of the Charlies Bunion hike starting from the Newfound Gap parking lot. The added benefit of this longer loop is the opportunity to see more of the Great Smokey Mountains! You'll pass ...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Kephart Prong Trail, Great Smoky Mountains NP
5.03.92 mi / 850 ft gainKephart Prong is a pretty easy hike in close proximity to the Visitor Center on the North Carolina Side of GSMNP. 2 miles up the trail, you'll arrive at Kephart Shelter, where you can rest and enjoy vies of the Kephart Prong. Once you've had your fill, head back down the way you came. During th...Read more -
Flat Rock, North Carolina
Watch the Green Race
5.01.8 mi / 500 ft gainOn the first Saturday of November the best creek boaters in the world gather at the Green River in North Carolina to see who can storm the Narrows and claim the top title (at least for the next year!). For paddlers, creek boating is a pursuit along tight and narrow steeps that most of us have ne...Read more -
Asheville, North Carolina
Run through Carrier Park
If you're in Asheville, NC and want a fun place to be outside, buzzing with activity-- you'll need to check out Carrier Park. Here, you can run along the trails, bike in the Velodrome (former race track), launch your kayak or inner tube from one of the free launches, hammock from a tree, do yoga ...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Hike Ledbetter Creek
5.0Leaving the Nantahala Outdoor Center, drive upriver for 6.5 miles until you see a pull off on the right. Walk past the picnic tables, cross the railroad tracks, then follow the trail to arrive at the creek. Once you're there, it's up to you on what to do next.One of the most popular activities he...Read more -
Toccoa, Georgia
Explore Toccoa Falls
3.60.2 miPark at the welcome center of Toccoa College.The trailhead is behind the welcome center, starting at the gates to the right of the center. The trail takes you along a creek on a gravel trail. After a short distance, you will reach Toccoa Falls, where the water pours off the rocks from over 180 fe...Read more -
35.556724,-83.495827
Forney Creek Loop
4.519.04 mi / 3500 ft gainThis is an overnight loop hike that is built around one night in the back country. It can be done as an ambitious day hike. Be advised that permits are required by the NPS for all overnight stays in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The hike begins at the Clingman's Dome parking lot at the For...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Clingmans Dome
4.41.23 miThe drive to Clingmans Dome is miles of scenic overlooks that provide endless views of ridges and valleys. Clingmans Dome Road comes to a parking lot from which you follow a .5 mile paved trail to the summit. There are also several trails that start on Clingmans Dome Road. Most notably The Appal...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Andrews Bald
5.03.55 mi / 1200 ft gainThe trail begins at the Clingmans Dome parking lot, just to the left of the paved walkway up to Clingmans Dome. You will start the hike at an elevation of 6130 feet which is only 334 feet less than Clingmans Dome which is the highest point in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and the second...Read more -
Bryson City, North Carolina
Clingmans Dome Loop
25.75 mi / 4000 ft gainThe first day of the hike is either 12.3 miles or 10.5 miles (depending on the campsite) almost all downhill, and the second half of the loop is 13.3 miles or 11.5 miles, again depending on the campsite, almost exclusively uphill. Just as a reference the first day took us about 6 and a half hours...Read more