Natural Attractions
Blue Ridge Parkway
During your visit to Haywood County, be sure to take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which meanders 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
With a 46-mile stretch of "America's Favorite Drive" located here, opportunities to take in spectacular scenery abound. Stop at some (or all) of the 20 overlooks--including Cold Mountain and the highest point on the entire Parkway--for unmatched vistas of the Southern Appalachian mountain range.
The Blue Ridge Parkway (open year-round, weather permitting) can be accessed from four locations in Haywood County: U.S. 276 at Wagon Gap Road; N.C. 215 at Mount Hardy Gap; U.S. 23/74 at Balsam Gap; U.S. 19 at Soco Gap. There is no fee for using the Parkway. Check out a Map of the Southern portion of the Parkway.
Before heading to the Parkway, it would be a good idea to check the current road conditions and/or closures (regardless of the time of year). Call the park information line at 828-298-0398 or check online for current closures.
The posted speed limit on much of the Parkway is 45 mph, though lower in some spots. Slow-moving traffic should use overlooks and other pull-offs to allow faster vehicles to pass safely. Stay alert for cyclists, tight curves, wildlife, and sudden changes in weather conditions.
The two most popular times of year to travel the Haywood County section of the Blue Ridge Parkway are June, when flame azalea, mountain laurel and catawba rhododendron typically bloom at higher elevations, and October, when leaves set the mountains ablaze as they change from their summer green to a spectacular spectrum of fall colors.
You'll find many reasons to pull over along this 46-mile stretch of Parkway. View Cold Mountain (made famous by Charles Frazier's award-winning and best-selling historical novel and its film adaptation starring
Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger) at milepost 412. Looking Glass Rock, known for its striking granite face, is visable from the overlook at milepost 417 (as well as various other points on the Parkway). At milepost 418.8, explore Graveyard Fields, where a short downhill hike (partly paved) leads to one of three waterfalls. A popular hiking destination, Graveyard Fields morphs into a wild blueberry patch in late summer and fall, so bring your buckets. Pull into the parking area at milepost 422.4 for a view of Devil's Courthouse (according to Cherokee folklore, the devil holds court in a cave on the mountain). A walk to the bare rock summit is worth every step. The highest point on the entire Parkway, 6,053 feet at Richland Balsam overlook, is located at milepost 431. Waterrock Knob, at milepost 451.2, offers a panorama of the Great Smokies; there's also a visitor center here, along with a trail and exhibits.
The most visited national park in the United States (with more than 9 million visitors each year), 
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, more than 800 square miles of protected land straddling the North Carolina/Tennessee border, is easily accessed from Haywood County. Take the quick drive to Cherokee, where the park's main entrance on the North Carolina side is located. U.S. 441 leads directly into park, becoming Newfound Gap Road. Stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center for information, and then take a trip back in time with a stroll through the Mountain Farm Museum, "a unique collection of farm buildings assembled from locations throughout the park" that highlight what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the area that is now the National Park. Mingus Mill, a historic grist mill built in 1886, stands in its original location (only a half-mile from the visitor center) and is worth checking out.
There are several ways to experience and enjoy this natural treasure, from auto touring to backcountry camping. With 384 miles of road in the park, seeing the park via automobile is a popular choice for many visitors. Map out your trip through the park, or buy a Smokies Road Guide from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. The park's main thoroughfare, Newfound Gap Road (which runs from Cherokee, NC, to Gatlinburg, TN), reveals the diverse ecosystems within the park. Free podcasts are available for those who want an audio guide to the drive. Other popular drives offer amazing vistas, wildlife viewing, access to hiking trails, and more. Be sure to check the seasonal road schedule and weather-related road closures when planning your trip.
With more than 800 miles of trails, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is indeed a hiker's paradise. From short, relaxing walks to strenuous but rewarding hikes, from trail heads alongside roads to backcountry trips, from waterfalls to dense forest, the options are numerous. Check out this Trail Map and these safety tips. Camping, whether it be at one of several frontcountry campgrounds to a site off the beaten path, is another way in which visitors take advantage of all the park has to offer.
- Cades Cove, an open valley surrounded by tall mountains where an 11-mile loop road (which can be traveled by foot, bike or automobile) provides access to historical buildings, numerous hiking trails, some of the best wildlife viewing, and spectacular scenery;
- Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet (also the highest point in Tennessee and the third tallest mountain east of the Mississippi) where an observation tower reward those who make the steep half-mile hike with breathtaking views of the Smokies in all directions;
- Deep Creek, an area known for its streams and waterfalls;
- Newfound Gap, the nearly mile-high spot where Newfound Gap Road crosses the mountain ridge and motorists stop to take in the scenic views.
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located within Haywood County. Accessible from Cove Creek Road (take I-40 to exit 20, see map & directions), Cataloochee Valley is one of the most remote and most beautiful areas of the park, and a unique place to explore both the natural and cultural history of the Smokies. Once a populous settlement and mountain community, Cataloochee Valley is perhaps now best known for elk, which were reintroduced in the valley in 2001 after disappearing from North Carolina in the late 1700s as a result of over-hunting and loss of habitat. Early morning and late evening are regarded as the best times for viewing the elk (usually as they graze along the roads and in the meadows). Other wildlife, including black bear, white-tailed deer and wild turkeys, also roam the area. Cataloochee Valley is rich in history; with original homesteads still standing (tour a school, churches, a barn, and several homes), learn what life was like for early settlers of the area. There's also plenty of hiking, camping and fishing to be had here, so make sure a trip to Cataloochee Valley is on your itinerary while visiting Haywood County. Come celebrate the park's 75th Anniversary in 2009.Cullasaja Falls: On U.S. 64, 11 miles east of Franklin, the 250-foot falls are visible from the road.
Dry Falls: Located near U.S. 64, 3.5 miles west of Highlands, 16.5 miles from Franklin. Paved walkway leads to falls from parking area. Walk underneath the 75-foot falls.Toxaway Falls: U.S. 64 passes right over the 125-foot falls.
Whitewater Falls: Take U.S. 64 east to Whitewater Road. The falls are located 10 miles south on Whitewater Road, near the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. At 411 feet, Whitewater Falls are the tallest falls in Eastern America. Drift, Horse Pasture and Rainbow falls are also accessible from Whitewater Road.
Looking Glass Falls: From Waynesville, take U.S. 276 South, about 22 miles. Parking area is well marked on the east side of the highway. The 85-foot falls are visible from the road. It is only a short walk to the falls. Walkways with handrails.
Graveyard Fields: Trailhead located at parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 418. The Yellowstone Prong of the Pigeon River feeds three waterfalls—Yellowstone Falls, Lower Falls and Upper Falls—that are definitely worth the hike.
