Suggested Area Hikes

Trails for Every Hiker

Nantahala Outdoor Center's Nantahala River campus is surrounded by outstanding hiking trails, so there's a hike around here for everyone, from trail runners, to families with young kids. Because of our location in the Nantahala Gorge, the closest hikes to NOC are typically pretty steep, but outside the gorge there's easier hiking that's no less beautiful.

Check out this NOC blog post about the hike to Siler Bald in Nantahala National Forest!

#1 Wesser Creek Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 8.8 miles out and back

From the parking area at the end of Wesser Creek Road, climb the blue-blazed Wesser Creek Trail approximately 3.6 miles to its intersection with the A.T.  Once there, turn left (south) and hike another 0.8 miles to the fire tower on Wesser Bald to enjoy the magnificent vistas of the Smokies and Nantahala Gorge.

Directions: Drive one mile east on U.S. 19/74 from the NOC and turn right at the Nantahala Food Mart onto Wesser Creek Road. Follow Wesser Creek Road, which will eventually become gravel, to its terminus and park at the trailhead.

#2 Appalachian Trail from Tellico Gap to Wesser Bald

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3 miles out and back

This is the easiest hike up to the Wesser Bald fire tower and a good excursion for hikers with little time. Simply park at Tellico Gap and follow the trail 1.4 miles north (left) to Wesser Bald. Though short, the climb up is fairly steep.

Directions: Head west from NOC on U.S. 19/74. After 7.4 miles, turn left at the brown Nantahala River Launch Site sign onto Wayah Road. Follow Wayah for 5 miles along the Upper Nantahala River, and take the second paved road to the left, Otter Creek Road. (There’s a brown information sign pointing to Tellico Gap here.) Follow Otter Creek Road for another 4 miles to the parking lot and trailhead.

#3 Bartram Trail to Cheoah Bald

Difficulty: Strenuous
Length: 10 Miles Out and Back / 13 to NOC

This section of the yellow-blazed Bartram Trail ascends directly up the side of the Nantahala Gorge, climbing over 3,000 feet in 5 miles to Cheoah Bald. Once there, hikers can lunch almost a mile above sea level before descending down to their cars at the trailhead, or they can follow the Appalachian Trail south 8 miles to NOC.

Directions: To reach the trailhead, take U.S. 19/74 6.6 miles west from NOC and look for a picnic and parking area to the right (near the bike path crossing). If you want to hike all the way to NOC, you’ll need a shuttle vehicle waiting there.

#4 NOC to Cheoah Bald/Stecoah Gap

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Length: 8 miles to Cheoah Bald/13.6 to Stecoah Gap (overnight option)

This section of the Georgia-to-Maine Appalachian Trail begins at the NOC and heads north. NOC guests looking for overnight hikes might consider hiking the 3,339 feet up to Cheoah Bald (elev. 5,062) and camping at the Sassafras Gap shelter that they will pass at mile 6.9 on the way up. From there, guests can hike back to the center, or, if a shuttle car is available, continue on to Stecoah Gap and its intersection with N.C. 143.

Directions: To leave a shuttle vehicle at Stecoah Gap, head east out of the gorge on U.S. 19/74 and turn left onto N.C. 28. Follow N.C. 28 until it intersects N.C. 143 and turn left onto N.C. 143/Sweetwater Rd. looking for the A.T. intersection within the first two miles.

#5 NOC to Tellico Gap

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Length: 7.9 miles (overnight option)

The Appalachian Trail also runs south from the NOC campus, and the section up to Tellico Gap climbs 2,904 feet in the 6.5 miles to Wesser Bald. The hike rewards the effort though, offering hikers both the “Jump-up” and the Wesser Bald fire tower—two excellent vantage points of the Smokies.

Directions: Hikers will need to leave a shuttle car on Otter Creek Road (S.R. 1365—see directions in #2) unless they plan on camping at the Wesser Bald Shelter at mile 7.1 and hiking down to NOC the next day.

#6 Flint Ridge Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.5 miles

The Flint Ridge Trail was created for mountain bikers, but it also offers NOC guests an on-campus hiking option. The trail, which climbs Flint Ridge and offers views of the Nantahala Gorge, is a favorite of local trail runners. CAUTION! Guests should always be alert for cyclists on the Flint Ridge trail—especially around bends.

Directions: Located on NOC's Nantahala River campus.

#7 Deep Creek

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2 miles

Less than two miles from downtown Bryson City (U.S. 19/74 exit 67), Deep Creek has an entrance where hikers can access the many backcountry trails that wind through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or take a leisurely stroll along the creek’s bank and picnic by the water’s edge. Deep Creek is probably best known for its three waterfalls—Juneywhank, Toms Branch and Indian Creek Falls. All are just a short walk from the parking lot.

Directions: After taking exit 67, head into Bryson City and turn right onto Main Street (after passing Bojangles), and then take a left onto Everett Street. After crossing the railroad tracks, turn right onto Depot Street, which eventually becomes Deep Creek Road. Follow Deep Creek Road into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

#8 Smokemont (Near Cherokee)

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 4 miles

Starting at the Smokemont campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park there are several options for hiking, including a forested loop trail, trails following streams, and waterfalls such as Chastain Cascades.

Directions: Take U.S. 74 West to exit 69 for Hyatt Creek Road. Follow Hyatt Creek Road north until it intersects U.S. 19, then turn right onto U.S. 19 and follow it for 5 miles. When you intersect U.S. 441, go left onto U.S. 441 and look for signs leading to Smokemont.

#9 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (near Robbinsville/approximately 40 miles from NOC)

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2 miles

The trail is an easy figure eight winding through a magnificent virgin forest and is recommended for families with small children by the Forest Service. On the upper portion of the trail there are yellow poplars over 100 feet tall and exceeding 15 feet in circumference.

Directions: From the western side of the Nantahala Gorge take U.S. 129 North through Robbinsville until N.C. 143 West splits off at Massey Branch Road. Follow N.C. 143 for 5 miles and turn right onto Kilmer Road. Follow Kilmer to its junction with the Cherohala Skyway, and bear right following signs to the forest. Turn left at the entrance and park in the lot a 1/2 mile down the road.

**Descriptions of hikes 1-5 were created with information from the Appalachian Trail Guide to North Carolina-Georgia: Book and Maps published by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and available for purchase in the NOC Gear Shop.**