Swain County | Western North Carolina

The Nantahala River is a hot spot for white water rafting in Western North Carolina. While the rapids are relatively small and accessible to younger crowds, there are still opportunities for the more experienced rafters to self-guide their own raft and enjoy a 2-hour trip in a beautiful valley in the Great Smoky Mountains.

While river sports are the main attraction, the road next to the river offers a scenic drive and many roadside stops and restaurants to enjoy. The Upper Nantahala River also offers a scenic drive and quiet spots to picnic or camp next to the river with a few small waterfalls along the way.

At the end of the rafting section of the Nantahala lies the NOC resort. Offering a general store, outfitters store, restaurant, bar, and lodging, the NOC has been a destination for millions of people over the years. Throughout the rafting season, there is a constant stream of live music and activities available almost every evening.

The NOC offers rafting, but my personal favourite is the Wildwater Rafting Company located a mile or two towards Bryson City, NC (I'm a little biased as I worked at WW for a few summers). It's a beautiful place to enjoy your summer and I highly recommend visiting at least once.

I won't go into too many specifics of the history regarding the Road to Nowhere, as it has been covered at length (the History), but I wanted to share a selection of photos below.

It is an abandoned road construction project that was promised to the locals after immense flooding of the Fontana Lake in the 1960s and has been a tourist attraction ever since. It has trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and a giant (and very dark) tunnel at the end.

Along the way to the tunnel are a number of lookouts to stop and take in the landscape. The following image is just one of the many views available along the journey to the Road to Nowhere.