Area Videos | Highlands Cashiers Sapphire Valley News Podcast

The Great Smoky Mountains mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains and the name is commonly shortened to the Smokies.

The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. The park was established in 1934, and, with over 11 million visits per year, it is the most visited national park in the United States.

The Cullasaja River Gorge

A two-lane highway called Mountain Waters Scenic Byway, which is the combined route of U.S. 64 and NC 28, runs through the Cullasaja Gorge. It is mostly protected as part of the Nantahala National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has designated this as a National Scenic Byway because of the river and its numerous waterfalls, including:

- Bridal Veil Falls, on a tributary creek
- Dry Falls, which visitors can walk behind without getting wet
-Quarry Falls, also known as Bust-Yer-Butt Falls
-Cullasaja Falls, the major cascade of falls
(source:wikipedia)

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a part of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, and extends 550-mile southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater Rafting on the Nantahala River near Bryson City is perfect for beginners and first-timers to whitewater. River rafting through these family-friendly Class II-III rapids is a mild but exciting adventure. The Nantahala features eight miles of practice on easy Class II rapids before splashing through the exciting Class III whitewater of Nantahala Falls.Fully guided trips are available starting in early March of each year; this video was filmed in April.
Video: Visit Bryson City!

Within the Blue Ridge province are two major national parks – the Shenandoah National Park in the northern section, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southern section. The eight national forests include George Washington and Jefferson, Cherokee, Pisgah, Nantahala and Chattahoochee.

The Fishing and Food Trails of Western NC - Play On!

Part 1 of a 2-episode journey through Jackson County North Carolina, home to the Nation's first official Fly-Fishing Trail. We also go on a Badia Spices inspired culinary adventure through beautiful downtown Sylva, NC.

Select Videos of the Blue Ridge / Smoky Mountains

What to do in Cashiers North Carolina!

Why Blue?

The Cullasaja River Gorge

Whitewater Rafting

The Fishing and Food Trails of Western NC - Play On!