Haywood County: Trails, Nature and History

Haywood County offers outdoor and cultural destinations with a range of focuses: hiking trails, wildlife and nature watching, water activities, winter sports and historic buildings. You can plan your trip around activities such as hiking, visiting historic sites or seasonal skiing. Specific offerings range from self-guided trails to an educational tour at a farm.

Hiking Trails and Overlooks

A 61-mile section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs through Haywood County. The county section is Segment 2 and is called “The Balsams.” At Richland Balsam, a self-guided trail winds through a preserved spruce-fir forest. The Richland Balsam Parking Area Overlook sits at 6,050 feet and marks the highest point on the Parkway.

A self-guided trail also starts at the Haywood-Jackson Overlook parking area. Access to the Graveyard Fields hiking trail is via the Graveyard Fields Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at milepost 418.8. Parking availability and Parkway conditions can vary; check them before your visit. At Waterrock Knob, the Waterrock Knob Trail starts at the highest-elevation visitor center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It sits at 5,820 feet.

Nature, Wildlife and Water

Cataloochee is home to one of the two large elk herds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Those interested in mountain biking can find 9 miles of mountain bike trails across 450 acres at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park. These two examples offer different focuses: wildlife watching in Cataloochee and mountain bike trails at the nature park.

There are also different options for water activities. Sunburst Swimming Hole has two main swimming areas, fed by water from the surrounding mountains. At Lake Junaluska Outfitters, visitors can rent canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Those looking to swim can visit Sunburst’s two swimming areas; those interested in paddling can consider the rental boats offered at Lake Junaluska.

Winter Sports at Cataloochee Ski Area

Cataloochee Ski Area offers 18 runs across 50 skiable acres. Eight runs are rated for beginners, seven for intermediates and three for advanced to expert skiers. This breakdown shows how the runs are distributed across the stated difficulty levels. Ski lessons are offered at the Snowsports Center. There is also an adaptive ski program for adults and children with disabilities. Operations and conditions vary seasonally; check the current status before your visit.

Historic Buildings and Collections

In Cataloochee Valley, visitors can see historic buildings, including Beech Grove School, Palmer Chapel and numerous wood-frame houses. These examples include a school, a chapel and other preserved buildings. Shelton House was built in 1875 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county’s cultural destinations thus include both a precisely dated building and visible historic structures in Cataloochee.

The Wheels Through Time Museum houses a collection of more than 300 rare machines. Alongside the historic buildings, the collection offers a different focus from hiking and nature destinations: culture enthusiasts can choose between preserved structures and an extensive collection of machines.

More Activities and Getting Here

Winchester Creek Farm offers 45-minute educational tours featuring alpacas and various small farm animals. The set tour duration gives this activity a clear time frame; if you are interested in animals, it combines an educational focus with encounters with the farm animals mentioned.

The Haywood County Quilt Trail can be explored using a printed guide and public county roads. Haywood County is accessible by car or plane. For planning your trip, you can choose from activities with a stated duration as well as a trail to explore with a guide.

Discover more destinations: Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lee, Durham, Orange, Caldwell County, Person County, Randolph County

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