Press

Beyond the Beaten Path: Best Hikes in Graham County
Explore Graham County’s best hiking trails, from ancient forests to hidden waterfalls, with tips from Smoky Mountain Living’s expert guide.

Paddling North Carolina's Elusive Cheoah River
GEAR JUNKIE
But one river has earned a reputation among experienced paddlers as a bucket list whitewater experience. Known for its steep and technical rapids, the Cheoah River offers tantalizing Class III to V rapids that give even the most experienced paddlers a thrill.

Snowbird Mountain Lodge, Best Hotel For Spotting Fall Foliage
SOUTHERN LIVING
Snowbird Mountain Lodge named a top destination to see fall foliage by Southern Living Magazine.

The Top 10 Most Affordable Mountain Towns in the Country
HOUSE BEAUTIFUL
Robbinsville, North Carolina: Nearby Lake Santeetlah has a lovely waterfront. Between that and the mountain views, it’s a low-key place for a nature-centric home.

Fontana Dam Included in Five Can't Miss Appalachian Trail Hikes in NC
OUR STATE MAGAZINE
John Pugh, trail name ‘Johnny Swank’, calls the 72 mile Great Smoky Mountains Traverse from Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap the ‘king of Appalachian Trail hikes in North Carolina.’

Snowbird Mountain Lodge Tops Style Blueprint List of All Inclusive Resorts in the South
This year, Snowbird Mountain Lodge will introduce amenities including in-room wellness packages, and themed weekend series, including Southern Traditions, Wellness of Body and Mind, and Artisan’s Retreat.

Fontana Is On the 'Secret Side' For Those Wishing to Skip Park Crowds
THE TRAVEL
If you are looking to escape the crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this summer writer Stephen Hanson suggests coming over to the ‘secret side’. The Fontana area is one of a few suggested places to get away.
Killboy Cabins at Fontana Village
RIDER MAGAZINE
Seven new Killboy-themed cabins are being renovated to meet the needs of riders and motorists who travel to the area to enjoy some of the best riding in the U.S.

An Outdoor Lover's Weekend in Graham County, NC
BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM
Graham County is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Experience thrilling class IV and V rapids on the Cheoah River, mountain biking in the Tsali Recreation Area, and the iconic Appalachian Trail.

6 Ways to Explore Graham County During the Most Stunning Season
OUR STATE MAGAZINE
This wild and wonderful mountain county in the far-western corner of North Carolina offers up scenic autumn adventures around every turn in the trail and bend in the creek.

Robbinsville Listed in Trips To Discover Article – 11 Winter Vacations in North Carolina
TRIPSTODISCOVER.COM
Robbinsville is another tucked-away treat in the Smoky Mountains, and here it’s all about the great outdoors.

Review of the Historic Tapoco Lodge
LEO WEEKLY
Get an insider’s look at traveling to Robbinsville, NC in the late winter with this first person narration of a stay at the historic Tapoco Lodge. Learn about the history of the lodge, the rugged beauty of the Nanathala National Forest in it’s early season as well as local shopping experiences.

Entering the Smokies on the AT
THE TREK
Want to know what it’s like to enter the Smokies on the AT early in the season? A through hiker known as Peg Leg captured her February experience in this detailed and informative article.

Shuckstack Fire Tower is a Park Landmark
SMOKY MOUNTAIN LIVING
Hiker and author Ben Anderson gives a beautifully detailed description of the history experience of a well known Park landmark, the Shuckstack Fire Tower in ‘On the Trail in the Smokies’.

Over the hills and far away: Tsali Ultra race returns to WNC
SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
Returning for its 15th installment, the annual outdoor race, the Tsali Ultra, will be once again held at Tsali Recreation Area on Fontana Lake in Graham County.
12 Southern Hotels With The Coziest Fireplaces
SOUTHERN LIVING
You don’t need to worry about a thing at Snowbird Mountain Lodge, an all-inclusive property in Western North Carolina.

Lake Santeetlah, 11 Most Beautiful Lakes in the United States
TRAVEL + LEISURE
Lake Santeetlah is an oasis of quietude for fishing, paddling a canoe or kayak, or just relaxing on the beach at Cheoah Point.

Stecoah Valley Center Named One of '5 Venues for Mountain Music'
OUR STATE MAGAZINE
Writer Liz Wynne includes Stecoah’s Grand Old Stage as a ‘prime destination for old-time and bluegrass music’ highlighting Balsam Ranges’s return to the An Appalachian Evening summer concert series for the 25th anniversary season.

