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What We Love About Graham County With 318 curves along an 11-mile stretch of U.S. Route 129, the famed Tail of the Dragon whips its way along mountainsides
What We Love About Graham County With 318 curves along an 11-mile stretch of U.S. Route 129, the famed Tail of the Dragon whips its way along mountainsides
From the observation deck at the 480-foot-tall Fontana Dam, visitors can take in panoramic views of the Little Tennessee River.
Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
On the North Carolina-Tennessee border, you’ll discover outdoor activities, arts, and delicious culinary experiences to inspire all levels of adventure.
With 318 curves along an 11-mile stretch of U.S. Route 129, the famed Tail of the Dragon whips its way along mountainsides from the county’s northwest corner to Tabcat Creek Bridge in Tennessee, drawing motorcycle and car drivers who seek an adrenaline-pumped challenge. Cherohala Skyway, another drive celebrated for its breathtaking views, winds 42 miles from Robbinsville to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, along mountainsides through untouched wilderness. This two-lane byway allows drivers to take a leisurely pace as they traverse a 5,400-foot mountain, with 14 overlooks and picnic areas along the way.
Throughout Graham County, roads lead to adventure and an escape into nature — a hiker’s paradise, an angler’s oasis, and a mountain biker’s dream. Ancient forests and cold, clear streams beckon visitors to immerse themselves and take in the unspoiled surroundings.
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Family Fun
Fontana Dam Tour: Don’t miss a walk across the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains. A short climb to the observation tower atop the visitor center reveals sweeping views of the 480-foot-tall dam spanning the Little Tennessee River. Inside, videos and exhibits tell the history of the dam built to provide electricity during World War II.
As part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slick Rock Wilderness, the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is preserved in its most primitive state, and the only way to explore it is on foot. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: A two-mile, figure-eight trail through this old-growth forest allows visitors to hike beneath 100-plus species of trees. Among ferns and blankets of wildflowers, enormous tulip poplars with trunks more than 20 feet around have grown here for at least 400 years, remnants of the original Appalachian forestland.
Sheltered by trees, the wide shallow waters at Big Snowbird Creek are a fly-fisher’s dream. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Big Snowbird Creek: Within the Nantahala National Forest, you’ll find one of the top trout streams in the state. Along Big Snowbird Creek Road, the creek’s wider, slower-moving section is stocked on a delayed release schedule, making it ideal for folks new to fly fishing. To access more challenging wild-trout waters, park at “The Junction,” an old railroad turnstile after the road turns to gravel, and hike upstream.
Santeetlah Lake Trail: Bring your family for hiking and mountain biking along old logging forestry roads that skirt Santeetlah Lake within Nantahala National Forest. Two loops create a relatively flat 15-mile track. For those looking for something a little easier to tackle, consider a practice run on the quarter-mile Connector Trail between the two.
Explore the shaded old forestry road around Santeetlah Lake Trail or splash in the waters at Yellow Creek Falls. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Yellow Creek Falls Trail: Tucked along Tapoco Road/U.S. Highway 129, you just might drive past this beautiful waterfall without noticing. Follow the relatively easy, .3-mile trail, and pack a lunch to enjoy riverside. If you feel a little more adventurous, you can descend to the creek where you’ll find the waterfall, framed by rhododendrons and mossy rocks. The rocks can be slick, but step carefully and you’ll be rewarded with a dip in the cooling waters below the falls.
Gravel-hala: For a beginner-level, off-road experience, head to the original Cherohala Skyway, officially named National Forest Service Road 81 (NFSR). This winding gravel road runs parallel to the Cherohala Skyway through the woods beside Santeetlah Creek. Eventually it crosses under the skyway near the state line before continuing along River Road to Tellico River Gorge in Tennessee.
High Adventure
Tsali Recreation Area: Whether you’re rumbling over singletrack on your mountain bike or trotting on horseback along the nearly 40 miles of trails, you’ll be treated to views of Fontana Lake’s blue-green waters and silhouettes of the Great Smoky Mountains. Located within the Nantahala National Forest, Tsali has an on-site campground with easy access to trailheads and a boat ramp on the lake.
During high-flow dam releases, the Cheoah River turns into some of the most challenging rapids in the southeastern United States. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Cheoah River: Scheduled releases from Lake Santeetlah Dam transform a nine-mile stretch of the river into raging whitewater, creating a fast and challenging run through class IV and V rapids. This gives experienced paddlers the chance to test their skills, navigating flood conditions through brush and trees, drops over rock ledges, and hydraulics.
Appalachian Trail: Extending 2,190-plus mile from Georgia to Maine, this epic footpath zigzags along the border of Graham and Swain counties for a stretch before turning northwest toward Fontana Dam. You don’t need to trek the trail’s entirety to access the route in Graham County and take in the stunning views of the valleys and mountaintops.
Drivers zip through the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest during the Dragon Hillclimb race. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Dragon Hillclimb: Watch amateur racecar drivers speed uphill along curvy mountain roads at the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) event, inspired by nearby Tail of the Dragon. Winners of the 2.2-mile speed competition through Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest draw prize swords from a “rock” to claim their title as King or Queen of the Hill.
Arts and Culture
Marie’s Lavender Farm: Tucked within the forests of the Smokies, this tiny farm offers tours of its fragrant fields, picnicking spots along Yellow Creek, and a small shop with lavender-infused goods, pottery, and such. Its welcoming owners share their knowledge of lavender and the land, so a visit to this sanctuary is both relaxing and enlightening.
Shop honey and honey-inspired products at Wehrloom Honey and Meadery’s Robbinsville shop and tasting room. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Wehrloom Honey and Meadery: This sweet little shop and tasting room sells products made with honey harvested from hives tended by the Wehr family. In addition to mead (a wine made from fermented honey), Wehrloom makes craft sodas. You can enjoy a Honey Cream Soda or mead flight while sitting on the large, covered porch after picking up mountain-made soaps and candles to take home.
Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center: This summer, the Appalachian Evening concert series continues a tradition of bluegrass, old time, and folk music on the center’s stage, where musical greats — Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, The Carter Family, and the like — performed in the 1940s and ’50s. Celebrate Appalachian heritage year-round at the art gallery inside the historic stone schoolhouse, in arts and crafts classes, and at festivals on its grounds.
Billy Welch handcrafts traditional Cherokee pieces in Hunting Boy Wood Carving’s studio space. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Hunting Boy Wood Carving: At this studio and shop in the Snowbird community, within the Qualla Boundary, you’re surrounded by crafts made in the Cherokee tradition. Self-taught woodcarver Billy Welch, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee who has work displayed in the Smithsonian, carves clan and booger masks, makes reed flutes, and crafts beadwork.
Shed Gallery: Step into a colorful menagerie of art in this eclectic collection curated by Randy and Sandy Wood. Randy, a professionally trained artist who paints daily, sells his own work here. Everything from pottery and paintings to folk art and vintage antiques are sprinkled around the gallery and property.
Sourcing and Dining
Graham County Farmer’s Market: On Saturday mornings mid-May through mid-November, let fresh and in-season produce inspire your next meal. In addition to vegetables, fruit, meats, and other ingredients, you’ll find handmade goods like jewelry and charcuterie boards under the tents beside Graham County Public Library.
Pine Row Farm: Stop by the farm store for cuts of Angus beef, heritage pork, and free-range chickens raised on-site by the Phillips family. Be sure to pick up a dozen eggs and some breakfast sausage to make a tasty breakfast that’s well worth getting out of bed for.
Stoney Hollow Farm: Come to the farm for non-GMO, organic vegetables, and you’ll probably leave with a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers you picked yourself, too. Inside the red barn of this farm store, you’ll find vintage and antiques, locally made soaps, honey, and gourmet foods.
Catch your dinner from the trout supply at Tumbling Waters Campground and Trout Pond. Photography courtesy of Graham County Travel & Tourism Authority By D. Hunter Turner
Tumbling Waters Campground and Trout Pond: You don’t have to camp at Tumbling Waters to enjoy the fresh trout from the on-site pond. Bait, tackle, fishing poles, and cleaning are provided, so all you need to do is reel fish in (if you catch one, that is). Or call ahead, and a freshly filleted rainbow trout will be ready to pick up when you arrive.
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