GRAHAM COUNTY - NORTH CAROLINA , we call it Smoky Mountain Country, is one of the most mountainous areas in the Smokies with several peaks ranging over a mile high. Our streams and creeks feature some of the best trout fishing in the southeast, and we have hundreds of miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails including sections of the Appalachian and William Bartram Trails. 

Whitewater sports are a major attraction. The Cheoah River , an eight mile run from the Santeetlah Dam to Calderwood Lake , is a must for southeastern enthusiast with Class IV rapids. To the east is the famed Nantahala River , a great river for the novice, and to the south is the Ocoee…home of the 1996 Olympics. CLICK HERE for current lake levels of Lake Santeetlah and Cheoah River releases for whitewater sports.
Nature is what these mountains are all about. A walk through Joyce Kilmer Forest , the largest original growth forest in the Eastern US , is a wonderful example of nature at her best. Hemlock and Poplar trees tower hundreds of feet towards the sky with girths that take 7 and 8 adults with out stretched arms to reach around. The floor beneath the canopy of giant trees is covered with Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron. A ride along the CHEROHALA SKYWAY features mountain vistas that one only dreams of with views of deep valleys and mountain ranges as far as the eye can see. While there, take a short walk to Hooper Bald (Elevation 5290’), and enjoy the views from a grassy mountain top. Over 60 percent of Graham County is a part of the Nantahala National Forest .

These mountains feature the best in mountain crafts from pottery to wood work.. Several members of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild are based in Graham County. This area is also a magnet for rock hounds. One can pan for gold and dig for rubies and sapphires, or visit rock shops in the surrounding area.