You don’t have to scale Whiteside Mountain or hike to Rainbow Falls to spot some of Jackson County’s most beautiful sights. In fact, a visual feast awaits along Highway 107 and State Route 64’s winding, backcountry roads. Mountain ridges peek through thinning fall foliage. Lake Glenville glitters sapphire blue in the sunshine. And, did you see it?! Waterfall sightings pepper the drive — some pull-offs as fleeting as the views themselves.
Out in the wilds, Jackson County’s natural beauty is on full display. Follow your route into the village of Cashiers, a perfect homebase for a few days of exploring. Snug in the Nantahala National Forest at a lofty 3,500-feet elevation, the surrounding area around Cashiers may be wild, but the lifestyle certainly isn’t. Here and in the nearby towns, refined mountain hotels, serene spas, boutique shops, and a top-tier local dining scene give Jackson County a distinctly luxurious feel. After all, an escape to the mountains should be rejuvenating.
Turn off Highway 107 onto Slabtown Road, which leads to your home for the next few nights: Hotel Cashiers, a modern-chic mountain motor court. Whether you’re planning to visit on a weekend or setting aside a few weekdays for a western North Carolina getaway, read on for how to balance outdoor play with elevated indulgences in Jackson County.
Indulge in the relaxation of Jackson County. Pair a luxury resort stay with a rejuvenating day at a wellness spa. Dine mountainside, shop bespoke boutiques, and unwind fireside at a cozy cocktail bar. Savor the serenity of mountain moments.
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Upon your arrival at Hotel Cashiers, drop your bags in the custom-designed rooms and take a moment by the lobby’s fireside to make your gameplan. Then, head out to get a lay of the land.
Stretch your legs along the walking paths that lead through and around the Village Green. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Follow the hotel’s driveway and you’ll find the entrance to the Cashiers Ramble walking trail on the right, just before you reach NC Highway 107. This short path leads to Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center on U.S. Route 64. From there, a short walk takes you to the 13.2-acre Village Green park. Stroll on winding paths across Cashiers Creek, past the Wetlands and other gardens, where sculptures dot the landscape.
Distinct dining rooms throughout the farmhouse give The Orchard an extra touch of coziness. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
About a mile down Highway NC 107, The Orchard embraces traditional mountain refinement inside a century-old farmhouse, complete with warm, wood-paneled walls and a vintage mint-green pick-up truck out front. Enjoy an early dinner of seasonal fare, like mushroom-stuffed ravioli or Glenville fried trout over stone-ground grits. Arrive a little before your reservation and pick out a bottle of wine to enjoy on the gracious front porch before heading indoors for dinner.
After a quick, early breakfast, head out for your choice of guided outdoor excursion: fly fishing with Brookings Fly Shop or a hiking or driving tour with Highland Excursion.
You’re always a short cast from trout waters in this corner of western North Carolina. At Brookings, choices of rivers for wade and float trips include the Tuckasegee, Davidson, Little Tennessee, and French Broad. The experienced guides know the ins and outs of numerous backcountry streams within the watersheds found in the Jackson County area. They will point you to where trout and smallmouth bass are biting.
You don’t have to go far from the village to be immersed in spectacular fall colors amid wild surroundings. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Highland Excursion customizes tours to clients’ interests and abilities, whether it’s going to see popular waterfalls around Cashiers or exploring lesser-known locations like Blue Valley or Picklesimer Rock House Falls. “Let someone else do the driving,” Kingsland encourages. “We can take any road, even if it’s raining.” His pledge comes in handy here — this is one of the two temperate rainforests in North America.
Follow up your morning adventure with lunch at the Village Pantry of Cashiers. Since its opening in the summer of 2024, this cafe has captured the hearts and stomachs of locals and travelers alike. In the relaxed dining room, appetizers like the Panko Pimento Cheese Bites served with the restaurant’s award-winning jalapeño jam are hard to resist. When you sink your teeth into the gooey grilled Manchego cheese and prosciutto on sourdough, you’ll commit to coming back before your trip’s end.
Carve out time for some self-care at Canyon Spa at Lonesome Valley. The spa, housed in the renovated caretaker’s cottage from Lonesome Valley’s days as a homestead, invites you to feel pampered by massage therapists and estheticians. Privai products, an Asheville skincare line, are used at the spa to promote healing and deep relaxation.
Treat yourself to a new purchase (or two) from the upscale boutiques and shops around Cashiers. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Take advantage of the shopping scene in Cashiers after your spa visit. Many of the village boutiques focus on personalized service, so the pampering continues. If you need help defining your style, stop by The Look Boutique for personal styling and one-on-one consultations. American and European designer clothing at Sashay Around ranges from everyday basics to special occasion wear. There’s also a recently opened three-story location of the renowned Highlands institution TJ Bailey’s, with elevated offerings and customer service for a chic makeover.
At Cashiers Crossroads, you can shop for antiques, original art, and home goods. From the Southern sophistication of Toby West Home and the colorfully creative at Objet d’Art gallery to the handcrafted Amish designs at Allure Home and Gifts and uniquely curated finds at pet-friendly Village Hound, you’ll find the pieces that feel right for your home.
Before you return to the hotel, stop for a pick me up at Buck’s Coffee Café, and snag some baked goodies like flaky pain au chocolat for tomorrow’s breakfast.
Housed within a restored 1864 farmhouse building, Library Kitchen + Bar’s historic charm makes it a romantic destination for dinner out. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Embark on the evening’s adventure to Library Kitchen + Bar in Lonesome Valley. You’ll find the dining room within the 1864 barn, the oldest structure in the valley, both rustic and sophisticated and a beautiful environment to enjoy contemporary American cuisine crafted by Michelin star-trained and award-winning Chef Johannes Klapdohr. Entrees like pistachio-crusted grouper and braised black Angus short ribs make for an unforgettable meal. Cap off the evening back at Hotel Cashiers, where you can sip a whiskey sour beside the fireplace in the cozy lobby before drifting off to bed.
When the weather is nice, enjoy a round of cornhole on the patio at Happs Place Barn and Grill. photograph by Tim Robison
Start the morning slowly with coffee and baked goodies you scored yesterday at Buck’s. It is vacation, after all!
The morning’s adventure is a hike to Rainbow Falls. The trailhead lies in Gorges State Park in the Grassy Ridge Access and Visitor Center parking lot. The first bit of the 1.5-mile, natural-surface path descends through dense thickets of rhododendron and past ferns and mosses blanketing the forest floor. After crossing a stream, you’ll begin hiking uphill, following the Horsepasture River, its roar of rushing water increasing as you approach Rainbow Falls.
The striking 150-foot falls tumble into a pool peppered with boulders at the base. When the sun is in just the right spot, its rays refract against the mist, creating rainbows that make it all the more magical.
Before hitting the road to head home, warm up by the fireplace and grab lunch at Happs Place Barn and Grill, the latest iteration of Glenville’s decades-old institution. The expansive porch boasts a 360-degree stone fireplace and retractable walls, keeping it cozy even on chilly days. Bite into a slice of Neapolitan-style pizza, topped with locally sourced ingredients (when in season) — we recommend the Mountain of Veg, loaded with fresh tomatoes, artichokes, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, goat cheese, and a three-cheese blend.
Ready to settle into your mountain getaway? Click here to start planning your visit to Jackson County and discover all the ways to relax in the western part of the state.
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