This wild and wonderful mountain county in the far-western corner of North Carolina offers up scenic autumn adventures around every turn in the trail and bend in the creek.
graham county
Fireflies, Bonfires, and Stargazing: 12 Ways to Celebrate Nightlife in Graham County
Mountain fun and adventures don’t have to stop when the sun sets.
Autumn’s Best Adventure: Cherohala Skyway
We found the season’s sweet spot — a series of them, actually, along a remote byway in far-western Graham County. The Cherohala Skyway dips and rises, curves and coasts past waterfalls, hiking trails, and mountain views that (almost) never end.
North Carolina’s High Road: The Cherohala Skyway
Only 18 miles of the Cherohala Skyway run across North Carolina. But those miles, cutting and rising above the Great Smoky Mountains, are some of the prettiest you’ll drive anywhere.
Into the Forest: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is 3,800 acres of unchecked wilderness. Here, centuries-old trees scrape the sky and shelter a natural world that reminds us of our place on this planet.
Carolina Rails
Long past its prime as the way to travel, a train charging across a field or a city street still has the power to transport us to places beyond its destination.
Olympian Meals at River’s End
World-class hikers and whitewater rafters know all about this restaurant on the banks of the Nantahala River. It’s where river gods and mortals stop for great home-cooking.
