Abundant Activities

in the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina

Deep Creek recreational area offers activites for the entire family including hiking trails that extend into the park major, whitewater tubing and three beautiful waterfalls.

Fontana Lake offers a 30-mile long, 11,700 acre Tennessee Valley Authority lake with more than 240 miles of coastline. More than 90% of the land around the lake is owned by the National Park Service or the U.S. Forest Service, so that the shoreline development has been kept to a minimum. Fishing at the lake is believed to be some of the best in the country for species like the smallmouth bass. If fishing is not for you, then there is always boating and water skiing. The scenery from the lake is breathtaking.

Fishing opportunities in Swain County abound. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Nantahala National Forest offer hundreds of miles of crystal clear streams.

Biking in the area is superb with a 42-mile network of multi-use trails that is consistently rated one of the top ten riding destinations in the United States for mountain biking. If road biking is your "cup of tea", then there are miles of uncrowded roads many designated as bike routes.

For National Park enthusiasts, the nearby park gives a glimpse into the Appalachian Mountain way of life with many interesting destinations.

• The Mountain Farm Museum
• Mingus Mill
• Clingmans Dome
• Smokemont
• Cades Cove
• Newfound Gap
• Fontana Dam

A great way to enjoy the area parks is by horseback. Horseback journeys usually last between 1 and 4 hours, and there are facilities to stable your horse or to rent one. There are many guided horse trails throughout the area.

And for the truly adventurous, Nantahala River offers a wide range of whitewater experience from the easy raft trip to the olympic style kayaking.

For the nostalgic, nothing could be sweeter than to take the authentic historic and scenic railway journey. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers many excursions from both Bryson City and nearby Dillsboro.

The Cherokee Indian Reservation offers a glimpse into the American Indian past with a spectacular play called "Unto These Hills". Follow this up with a trip to the Oconaluftee Indian village, and then visit the Museum of the Cherokee. This gives many a glimpse into the proud rich and sometimes tragic history of the Cherokee Nation.

For those wanting to try their luck at games of chance, or maybe just want to experience a Las Vegas type show, Harrahs has a casino in the Cherokee reservation.