Nantahala National Forest

Explore its Scenic Beauty and Abundant Adventures

"Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noon day sun," a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday. The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres and is divided into three Districts in the westernmost section of North Carolina::

• The Nantahala Ranger District stretches 250,000 acres across Macon, Jackson and Swain counties
• The Cheoah Ranger District has 120,500 acres in Graham and Swain Counties.
• The Tusquitee Ranger District  lies in the far southwestern tip of North Carolina in Cherokee and Clay Counties.

With over 600 miles of trails, visitors to the Nantahala National Forest can explore many recreational activities including whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping. This page primarily covers the recreational outdoor adventures within and nearby to Swain County, home of Bryson City.

To visit the Nantahala National Forest website, click here.