Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers an impressive 244,000 acres of Tennessee and 276,000 acres of North Carolina. This totals 520,000 acres, which equates to over 800 square miles. Now when compared to Yellowstone National Park which covers a massive 2,219,790.71 acres that may seem relatively small but it is still a lot of ground to cover in a mere 5 days. For that reason, and the fact that the trip unplanner when I combined the entire park was incredibly long, I’ve broken this trip unplanner into 2 parts.
Welcome to part 2 – The North Carolina Side.
This guide mainly focuses on Cherokee, North Carolina. This is a town on the reservation home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation.
North Carolina Highlights:
Fishing: The Mr is incredibly excited about fishing on tribal lands. This requires a permit and there are specific areas that are catch and release fly fishing only. Those permits are a bit more expensive but not ridiculously priced.
History: There is the Museum of the Cherokee that I would love to check out. Also the Oconaluftee Indian Village, Cherokee Heritage Museum and Gallery, and the Cherokee Indian Reservation.
Elk: The North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers more history, as well as, wildlife viewing. This is the native land of the Cherokee and they have successfully reintroduced elk to the region. Now there are roughly 140 elk calling this area home. Since going to Colorado during elk rut a few years ago I have a weird obsession with elk.
Road trips– We’ve heard New Found Gap Road is a must. This is the road that runs along the Tennessee and North Carolina border and offers stunning views of the mountains. If we have enough time we are hoping to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and possibly do a day trip to Asheville. I’m really hoping to get to the Biltmore Estates for Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition which runs May 17-October 7, 2018. I’ve been low key obsessed with Chihuly since seeing “Fiori di Como” at the Bellagio in Vegas.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park Trip Unplanner Park 2: North Carolina
Waterfall Hikes –
Mingo Falls – Pigeon Creek Trail, Cherokee, NC. Trailhead is located on US – 441 South. Take the second left onto Big Cove Road. Turn left at the first stop sign then drive 4.5 miles to Mingo Falls Campground. Rated moderate for .4 miles. Dogs are able to use this trail while on a leash.
Hikes –
Andrew’s Bald Trail – Cherokee, NC. Rated moderate at 3.5 miles. No dogs so only Thor (service dog).
Ocunaluftee River Trail – Cherokee, NC. Rated easy at 1.5 mile one way trail. Dogs allowed.
Cherokee, NC:
Eats –
Peter’s Pancakes & Waffles – 1384 Tsail Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719. 6:30 am – 2 pm. Rated #1 restaurant in the area on Trip Advisor.
Haywood Smokehouse – 403 Haywood Street, Dillsboro, NC 28725. Tues – Sat 11-9.
Things To Do –
Elk in Cherokee/Cataloochee. *we saw a huge herd of elk at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center*
Museum of the Cherokee Indians – 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719. 9 am – 5 pm.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center – 1194 Newfound Gap Hwy, Cherokee, NC 28719. 8 am – 5:30 pm.
- Mingus Mill – located near Ocunaluftee Visitor Center at Mingus Creek Trail, Cherokee, NC 28719. 9 am – 5pm.
Oconaluftee Indian Village – 218 Drama Road, Cherokee, NC 28719.
- Unto These Hills – A powerful retelling of the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. It is an outdoor performance and only runs through August each year.
Cherokee Heritage Museum and Gallery – 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC 28719, Cherokee, NC 28789. 9 am – 5 pm.
Fishing Cherokee – Some of the best trout fishing waters in the United States. Fishing on tribal land in Cherokee, NC requires a different permit/license that costs about $25.00.
Nantahala Brewing Taproom & Brewery – 61 Depot St, Bryson City, NC 28713 12-10pm.
Mountain Layers Brewing Company – 90 Everett St, Bryson City, NC 28713 2 -10 pm.
Possible Day Trip:
Asheville– 1hr 41mins
Eats –
Biscuit Head – 733 Haywood RD, Asheville. NC 28801 or 417 Biltmore Ave, 4F, Asheville, NC 28801. Mon – Fri 7 am – 2 pm. Sat & Sun 8 am – 3 pm.
OWL Bakery – 4545, 295 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806. 8 am – 6 pm. Closed Monday.
White Duck Taco Shop – 1 Robert Street, 12 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. 11:30 am – 9 pm.
12 Bones Smokehouse – 5 Foundry Street, Asheville, NC 28801. 11 am – 4 pm. Closed Sat & Sun.
Little Pigs BBQ – 334 McDowell Street, Asheville, NC 28803. 10:30 am – 8 pm. Closed on Sundays.
Farm Burger – 10 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. Sun – Thurs 11:30 am – 10 pm and Fri –Sat 11:30 am – 11 pm.
The Gourmet Chip Shop – 43 ½ Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801. 11 am – 7 pm.
Sunshine Sammies – 99 South Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. 12 – 9 pm.
The Hop Ice Cream Café – 640 Merrimon Ave #103, Asheville, NC 28804. 11 am – 10 pm.
Ultimate Ice Cream – 1070 Tunnel Road (28805) or 195 Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801. 12:30 – 9 pm.
Things To Do –
Hiking –
Schoolhouse Falls is rated moderate at 5.6 mile. Dogs are allowed on this trial.
Catawba Falls Trail is rated east at 2.1 miles. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
Bridal Veil Falls is rated moderate at 2 miles. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
Crabtree Falls is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is rated moderate at 2.6 miles. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
Little Bradley Falls is located in Saluda, NC. It is rated moderate at 1.9 miles. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
Dupont State Forest Triple Falls Trail is rated moderate at 4.5 miles for three waterfalls. Triple Falls, High Falls and Hooker Falls. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
Rattlesnake Lodge in Weaverville, NC. The trail is rated moderate at 3.7 miles. Dogs are allowed on this trail.
Others –
River Arts District – Street art.
Biltmore Estate – 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803 9 am – 5pm.
The Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition runs May 17-October 7, 2018. Most of the glass sculptures are installed throughout the gardens of the estate. You can also see Chihuly’s work inside Biltmore house and at Antler Hill Village.
- There will also be a first-time evening experience in the gardens called Chihuly Nights at Biltmore, which happens Thursdays through Sundays and requires a separate admission fee.
Hunger Games Filming location for District 12. Located at Henry River Mill Village on I 40 take exit 119. The village is on the left.
- DuPont State Recreational Forest was also used in the film as the Arena.
