Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SMOKY MOUNTAINS DAY HIKES
These are a few of our favorite short hikes in the North Carolina side of the park.
Big Creek Trail
Hike an easy 2 miles to Mouse Creek Falls or go another 3 miles to
a backcountry campground; the trailhead's near I-40 on the park's northeastern
edge.
Boogerman Trail
Moderate 7-mile loop passing old farmsteads; accessible via
Cove Creek Rd.
Chasteen Creek Falls
From Smokemont campground, this 4-mile round-trip
passes a small waterfall.
Shuckstack Tower
Starting at massive Fontana Dam, climb 3.5 miles for killer
views from an old fire tower.
Around Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The state's westernmost tip is blanketed in parkland and sprinkled with tiny mountain
towns. The area has a rich but sad Native American history - many of the original Cher-
okee inhabitants were forced off their lands during the 1830s and marched to Oklahoma
on the Trail of Tears. Descendants of those who escaped are known as the Eastern Band
of the Cherokee, about 12,000 of whom still live on the 56,000-acre Qualla Boundary
territory at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The town of
Cherokee
anchors the Qualla Boundary with ersatz Native American
souvenir shops, fast-food joints and
Harrah's Cherokee Casino
(
www.harrahscherokee.com
; 777 Casino Dr)
, which has an impressive water and video display,
the Rotunda, in the lobby. The best sight is the modern and engaging
Museum of the
Cherokee Indian
( 828-497-3481;
www.cherokeemuseum.org
; 589 Tsali Blvd/Hwy 441, at
Drama Rd; adult/child 6-12yr $10/6; 9am-5pm daily, to 7pm Mon-Sat Jun-Aug)
, with an in-
formative exhibit about the Trail of Tears.
South of Cherokee, the contiguous Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests have more
than a million acres of dense hardwood trees, windswept mountain balds and some of the
country's best white water. Both contain portions of the Appalachian Trail.
Pisgah Na-
tional Forest
highlights include the bubbling baths in the village of
Hot Springs
hike to the summit of 5721ft
Mt Pisgah
, which has a view of Cold Mountain of book and
movie fame.
Nantahala National Forest
has several recreational lakes and dozens of
roaring waterfalls.
