Bryson City, rich in
natural beauty, is a quiet country town located in Swain County in the Great
Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. It has a beautiful natural setting
with long range mountain vistas, trout streams, mountain lakes, rushing rivers,
waterfalls, lush forests, and a profusion of beautiful native plants and
flowers. Swain County is home to the largest portion of The Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, and has long been a popular vacation
destination.
Bryson City was
created in a county that today is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park which contains more than a half million scenic acres and stretches over 88
square miles. It contains some of the highest peaks in the East, many towering
over 6,000 feet in elevation. It is one of the largest wilderness areas in the
Eastern United States, and is the most visited of America's National Parks.
Swain county contains over 21,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land that
includes the Nantahala National Forest. The 469 mile long Blue Ridge Parkway
originates on 700 acres in Swain County and follows the crests of the Blue
Ridge Mountains from the Smokies in North Carolina to the Shenandoah in
Virginia. Four of North Carolina's most scenic rivers flow through Swain
County, including the Nantahala, the Oconoluftee, the Tuckaseigee and the
Little Tennessee. Swain County is home to a large portion of the 10,230 acre,
30 mile long Fontana Lake with its 238 miles of unspoiled shoreline.
Bryson City and Swain
County have become an "Outdoor Adventure Capital" to outdoor adventure
enthusiasts from all over the world. The clean cold rushing waters of the
Nantahala River provides fun and exciting whitewater rafting, kayaking and
canoeing to happy paddlers in the Nantahala National Forest. The other rivers
provide milder whitewater and scenic nature float trips. Fontana Lake provides
great fishing, skiing, swimming & water sports. Tsali Recreation Area
provides many miles of highly acclaimed, and top rated bike paths and horseback
riding paths on U.S. Forest Service land surrounding Fontana Lake. There are
numerous hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, as well as many trails
in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and the Nantahala National Forest.
Thousands of gemstone enthusiasts come to Swain County for outdoor gemstone
mining adventures every season. In addition, Swain County hosts the Great Smoky
Mountain Railroad that provides scenic tours to visitors all year
long.
Today, downtown
Bryson City has a delightful mix of retail shops, restaurants and a variety of
other businesses to provide shopping, dining and other services. Visitors can
walk along Bryson City's historic streets, browse in a wide variety of retail
shops, sample local cuisine in the cafes & diners, and enjoy the charm and
friendly hospitality of a small mountain town that has welcomed visitors to
this beautiful part of the Smoky Mountains for years.
Bryson City is an
easy 15 minute drive east of the Nantahala River Gorge on U.S. Hwy
19/74. |
