Very very tough trail. If not athletic it is possible to do it but need at least 3 hours so you…read moredon't overexert yourself. Steep and rocky but beautiful. We did not make it to the bottom of the trail, but got pretty close.

It all started when my mom said, "Hey, we should take this easy hike from the beach down to the…read morewaterfall." So we went over by the dam and started hiking. With 2 kids under 8. Oh my, never do that here. It's quite the moderate to difficult trail. Sure the place was a nice place to walk through, but this was a rough one, definitely not for pets or small children. Lots of stairs down at the start and (dear poor knees) UP at the end.

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW is this is one of the most uniquely beautiful waterfalls I've ever…read morehad the pleasure of visiting in the South, but it is not for the casual hiker. You absolutely need a basic understanding of how to follow blazes and navigate faint areas of the trail that might be overgrown. You also need to be in fairly good physical shape, because this trail is a WORKOUT... but the payoff is so worth it!!! ***** We completed our hike on Saturday 11/12/2022. While most other website reviews say they didn't encounter any other hikers, we actually came across several. At the falls we met a famous hiker and his crew repelling down the vertical drop section of Flat Creek Falls. I was kinda fanboying in the moment because I've used a number of his hiking notes over the years to guide me to many of the more difficult and less populated trails. On our return hike we also encounter THREE other couples separately headed to the falls. Must have been something in the air that day!!! It rained most of the week prior to our hike, so the falls were flowing nicely. But unfortunately the rain knocked all the remaining fall leaves off the trees, so my photos weren't as fall-tacular as I was hoping. The trail itself is rather boring with no scenic views other than the steep downhill section within the last mile where you can get a glimpse of Bear Lake. It can be a rather tricky trail to follow, but there are enough blazes to keep you on track. This is the first trail of hundreds that I've hiked where strips of a terrycloth towel were used as blaze markers... LOL! But hey, they were REALLY helpful! [ NOTES ] * Flat Creek Falls is broken into sections. The main visible fall is a sheer freefall of about 100 feet. Next it cascades heavily down the mountain, lengthening its overall look. Above the waterfall and out of view is another 30+ feet of sliding cascades, adding to its overall height. A drone would allow the best pic of the full glory of this waterfall. Check out this drone video by Seth Hogan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9TiFQtNgE * Lots of blown down trees to climb over/around. * THIS IS A WET HIKE!!! There is almost no way of avoiding getting your shoes or boots wet, so bring extra socks and shoes for the ride home. * Trail can get a little tricky in parts for inexperienced hikers even with the blazes, so be sure to download the offline map. * ALLTRAILS map ends at the lowest decent viewing point. You will still need to boulder jump several more yards to get the best vantage point. * VERY surprised by the "WARNING: BEAR SANCTUARY" markers along the steep downhill section of the trail. * Don't miss NELLIE FALLS which can be accessed along a spur trail near the parking area. DO NOT FOLLOW the wide Flat Creek Road trail. It does not lead to Nellie Falls. Instead, find an unmarked opening in the trees about 100 feet from the parking area AFTER crossing the creek . It looks rather sketchy but follow this trail. It will split in about 1/3rd of a mile and you will continue on the left trail that goes downhill. Once you reach Nellie Falls, you must cross through the river and continue the trail up the left side of a very large boulder to get the best view of Nellie. The hike to Nellie will add about 2 miles to your overall Flat Creek Falls hiking distance. [ NAVIGATION NOTES ] DO NOT... I REPEAT... DO NOT USE GPS NAVIGATION through Panthertown along Forrest Service Road 4670. You WILL NOT get through! Instead, use Hwy 281 to Rock Bridge Rd. The parking area will be at the end of Rock Bridge Road. Also, it is important to download this trail map prior to arriving. Mobile coverage is very weak past Lake Toxaway: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/flat-creek-road-flat-creek-falls/print?grid_format=decimal&map_center_lat=35.2159563039431&map_center_lon=-83.03239512200847&map_type=alltrailsOutdoorsV2&map_zoom=14.007959882271786&paper_orientation=portrait&paper_size=letter [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Maybe it is because I haven't hiked much this year and I'm no longer in hiking shape, but this trail really burned out my legs. I don't remember being this exhausted after a hike since I did Mounte LeConte in Gatlinburg via Alum Cave Trail. ALLTRAILS lists the hiking distance @ 5.8 miles round trip, but I don't believe that is accurate. My iPhone walking tracker logged me at 11.1 miles for the day (which also included the 2 miles round trip to Nellie Falls). Other than walking to my truck in my driveway, inside a restaurant after the hike, and to my shower when I got home... I did no other walking that day. TOTAL HIKE TIME - 5 hours 15 minutes It was a blessing to witness these two spectacular natural piece of art with my own eyes. They've been on my list for the past year and did not disappoint! Thank you Jess L for always being willing to tackle ANY trail with me! 2022 / 116

This is a great little place, to visit for the day. A lot of little shops and no trolls or zombies…read moreout and about. If you looking for a quick visit, this is your place. When looking for the elks and they couldn't be found.

After visiting Navajo Monument Valley last year, coming to Cherokee Indian Reservation made for a…read morefascinating afternoon. The area is beautiful, and it breaks my heart that the Cherokee were forced to leave it on the trail of tears. We were fascinated by the street signs in Cherokee language. Unfortunately, due to the Covid, the tribal village was closed and the outdoor pageant had been cancelled for the whole year. I would have loved to experience both of those and maybe ride a tube down the river as we saw many tourists doing. Driving down mainstreet Cherokee, we saw a few small Native American dance performances. I absolutely realized they were put on for tips and to lure tourists into the gift shops, but I couldn't help to stop and watch. I would love to come back during a "regular" year and experience more of the authentic Cherokee culture. True, there is an ugly casino and cheap tourist trap stores, but there are also some authentic trading posts and much of value to see here. I would recommend making a trip to Mingo Falls if you pass through, very beautiful and accessible without a long hike.

Cowee Mountain Overlook is perhaps the most scenic and wide open overlook on the Blue Ridge…read moreParkway. I haven't been to every overlook, so I can't say that for certain. But of the BRP overlooks I have seen in North Carolina, this most certainly is my favorite. That being said, as you drive the Parkway, you will have many "new" favorites along the way. Some offer the same view from a different angle, however, sometimes the angle makes ALL the difference. For example, nearby overlooks such as Richland Balsam, Beartrail Ridge Gap, and Haywood Gap all basically have the exact same view as Cowee Mountain Overlook, but vegetation plays a huge factor in the viewing field. Other stops such as Graveyard Fields offer a hiking trail and waterfalls while Lone Bald Overlook sits directly on a mountain ridge and you can see for miles in BOTH directions. Cowee Mountain Overlook is located @ mile post 430.7, just a mile from Richland Balsam which is the highest elevation on the Parkway @ 6,053. Although Cowee is slightly less elevated @ 5,950 feet, it is superior in view. Also, since it is over a mile above sea level, I gave my wife a smooch and told her we are officially in he mile high club. Although I'm sure we don't fit the dirtier parameters of the club, we're calling it a win anyway :-) FINAL THOUGHTS When making plans to visit Asheville, Brevard or Cherokee and only have time to stop at one overlook, make it this one!!! If you have time for three, include Lone Bald Overlook and Courthouse Valley Overlook. Enjoy!!! 2018/73

The Museum of the American House Cat is one of those stops that feels both interesting and quirky…read morein the best possible way, the kind of place that you pull into on a whim and walk out of smiling because it exists at all. The collection is a tight little maze of memorabilia, artwork, toys, signage and all the odd bits of feline history someone loved enough to gather, and we were through it in less than twenty minutes which honestly would have been quicker except Oliver the tabby, one of the resident cats, decided that we were worth his time. He let us pet him a bit and that small moment of cat diplomacy ended up being almost as memorable as anything in the cases. I kept thinking about a similar museum I visited near Gettysburg that was all about elephants. A fun comparison because I do not have elephants as pets and the emotional connection is of course different. Cats are part of daily life for so many people and that makes this place feel more personal and more playful. The displays are charming without trying to be anything grander than what they are and that honesty makes it work. As a break from driving through the North Carolina mountains, this was exactly the kind of distraction I hope for on a road trip, something small and strange and delightful that reminds you why detours are worth taking. I am genuinely pleased we swung off the main route for it because it added a little spark to the day and gave us a story to carry forward, and sometimes that is all you want from a roadside museum dedicated to the creatures who rule our homes. [Review 455 of 2026 - 4587 in North Carolina - 25638 overall]

Definitely worth a stop if you are a fan of cats! Even my boyfriend's parents (who are dog people)…read morethought it was interesting. This small museum is absolutely packed with cat collectibles, sorted by theme (clocks, Halloween, music, etc.) There is even a mummified cat from Egypt. My favorite thing was the carousel with the various cat figures on it. Well, my REAL favorite thing was the couple of kitties running around wanting pets! The museum supports the cage-free, no-kill shelter, Catman2 Shelter, so pay your $10 entry fee, pick up some goodies in the gift shop, and know that it's benefitting a good cause.

Located along US-23/US-441, this marker points out the Colonial expedition against the local Native…read moreAmericans. The marker reads, "The expedition led by Gen. Griffith Rutherford against the Cherokee, Sept., 1776, passed nearby along Savannah Creek." Online, there is more information. " By 1770 North Carolina's settlements were encroaching on previously designated Indian tribal lands. The Indians in the North Carolina mountains were primarily farmers who raised some livestock, hunted for game, and traded with white men for the most other supplies. Therefore the Native Americans were both threatened by the white men, but dependent on them, as well." "In May 1776 the Cherokee demanded the withdrawal of settlers from the western settlements within twenty days. Knowing that the demand would not be met, the Indians made plans for an attack. By late July the Cherokee had attacked various settlements along the North Carolina frontier, killing thirty-seven inhabitants. Citizens of the backcountry were alarmed." "Griffith Rutherford, brigadier general of the Salisbury District militia, called for volunteers to conduct an expedition against the Cherokee. With militia reporting from several western counties, Rutherford gathered about 2,500 men and enough supplies for forty days afield. From Davidson's Fort (Old Fort) Rutherford and his men set out on September 1, 1776. They headed through the Swanannoa Gap, towards the Cherokee Valley Towns. The Indians, having gotten word of the expedition, abandoned many of their settlements. Rutherford's men burned whatever was left behind." [Review 21134 overall - 3514 in North Carolina - 97 of 2024.]

Great time with Captain Mark. Our while family enjoyed his great personality and Knowledge of the…read moreareas. Easily 5 of 5 starts. Highly recommend.

Excellent tour. Fun, entertaining and informative. The pontoon is comfy and clean. Captain Mark is…read moreknowledgeable and taught us a lot. We highly recommend this tour. Great photo ops too.

CHARLIE FALLS and JULIE FALLS are located along the same trail inside Chinquapin, a mountain…read morecommunity with a wide array of available lots to build your dream home... or even a second home if you've got disposable income like that!!! ~ THE SCENE There is not a lot of information available about either waterfall other than their names, but I hope to discover a source of knowledge that would help me with a few curiosities. One curiosity would be each of the crossings leading to the waterfalls have named bridges, such as Grandma's Bridge, Caroline's Bridge and Abby Bridge. Who are they named after and why? Another curiosity would be an answer as to why there is an outhouse and storm shelter in the middle of the woods? No less pressing is the question of an old nearby shack with a sign over the door proclaiming it to be the Ritz Carlton! LOL Clearly those whom have occupied this space prior have a sense of humor, so it would have been lovely to present the full backstory. But alas my good yelp family, all I can offer are photos and approximate geographic coordinates. We accessed the trail from inside the gated community after making an appointment to see one of the available lots. The easiest access point was a trail between lots 96 & 97. However, as we walked the trail, there did seem to be other adjoining public trails to navigate to the falls, but I couldn't tell you exactly how. ~ TWO WATERFALLS (on two separate creeks) The first waterfall you will reach is JULIE FALLS. A gorgeous cascading fall that plunges into a small pool at its base and tightly surrounded by trees. We could not see the full height, but my guess would be around 30 to 35 feet tall. It was impressive even with average water flow, but I bet it would be spectacular after heavy rainfall. Further along the same trail, as you cross another bridge or two you will reach CHARLIE FALLS, which is a waterfall you might picture in a bedtime story. The trail opens up to a wider, more open area where the sunlight dancing on the green leaves of the trees seem to have a magical effect. Charlie falls is visibly approximately 25 to 30 feet tall, but I suspect there is more to this waterfall than we could see from the base. The surrounding boulders are blanketed in moss, making it an ideal setting for Hansel & Gretel's cabin. One of the boulders will immediately catch your eye, as it literally has the shape of a dinosaur fossil head. I promise, you will know it when you see it. CHARLIE FALLS is, imho, the more attractive of the two and very enchanting. It's the type of waterfall you don't want to leave straightaway. It makes you want to linger, although there is not much more to see as the trail ends here. NOTE: There are SIX waterfalls total within the subdivision boundaries! ~ FINAL THOUGHTS If you find yourself interested in coming here, the geographic coordinates to JULIE FALLS are 35.183073, -83.065735. Julie Falls is located on Mill Creek, just before it connects with Robinson Creek. CHARLIE FALLS is located on Robinson Creek and the coordinates are 35.181791, -83.066106. I suspect there might be a trail leading from Great Falls Drive where it crosses Robinson Creek, but I am not for certain: 35.188666, -83.061975. From this coordinate it would be about a half mile creek walk upstream to Julie Falls OR you could always call the Chinquapin Outpost for better directions. I also suspect there are several more waterfalls downstream on Robinson Creek as Google Earth images seem to show large whitewater sections of the river at the following coordinates: 35.189796, -83.058901 (appears to be on private property) 35.196138, -83.055175 (near the crossing of Trimble Ridge Rd) 35.200339, -83.053114 (also near Trimble Ridge Rd) All appear to be on private property, but the second seems to be close enough to the bridge to view. ENJOY!!! 2020 / 43