The Great Smoky Mountains mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains and the name is commonly shortened to the Smokies.
What to do in Cashiers North Carolina! Hiking trails, Waterfalls and More! These guys mis-pronounce a few of our local gorges and towns but they cover quite a bit of territory and is a good video!
The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. The park was established in 1934, and, with over 11 million visits per year, it is the most visited national park in the United States. Source: Wikipedia
IExplore the scenery and the incredible diversity of plants and animals that makes Great Smoky Mountains the most visited park in the National Park system.
Video:National Geographic:
Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite
Within the Blue Ridge province are two major national parks – the Shenandoah National Park in the northern section, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southern section. The eight national forests include George Washington and Jefferson, Cherokee, Pisgah, Nantahala and Chattahoochee. Source: Wikipedia
There are a LOT of trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and they’re responsible for that dreamy blue haze on the horizon.
Video: PBS Terra
Whitewater Rafting on the Nantahala River near Bryson City is perfect for beginners and first-timers to whitewater. River rafting through these family-friendly Class II-III rapids is a mild but exciting adventure. The Nantahala features eight miles of practice on easy Class II rapids before splashing through the exciting Class III whitewater of Nantahala Falls.Fully guided trips are available starting in early March of each year; this video was filmed in April.
Video: Visit Bryson City!
Yellow Mountain is in the Nantahala National Forest between Cashiers and Highlands. Some trekkers measure the path at just under 5 miles one way and others 6 miles. This is on the difficult side of moderate as it takes about 5 hours round trip and requires climbing Cole Mountain and Shortoff Mountains. Yellow Mountain is the highest peck in the Cowee Mountains and will be worth the effort. Take our time, go prepared, and enjoy!.
The Cullasja River Gorge:
The Cullasaja originates in the southeast, near Highlands, the county's only other town. It flows from manmade Lake Sequoyah, which is fed by Mirror Lake and other creeks and streams originating on the western side of the Eastern Continental Divide, which runs through the east side of Highlands.
A two-lane highway called Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, which is the combined route of U.S. 64 and NC 28, runs through the Cullasaja Gorge. It is mostly protected as part of the Nantahala National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has designated this as a National Scenic Byway because of the river and its numerous waterfalls, including:
- Bridal Veil Falls, on a tributary creek
- Dry Falls, which visitors can walk behind without getting wet
-Quarry Falls, also known as Bust-Yer-Butt Falls
-Cullasaja Falls, the major cascade of falls
(source:wikipedia)