Nantahala vacation rentals

Marked by gushing streams, cascading falls, and scattered sunbeams filtering through the treetops, Nantahala is located among some of the lushest land in the southern United States. Sixty-four miles south of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this North Carolina adventure wonderland lays claim to top-notch whitewater rafting and ample hiking and mountain biking trails. Named for the Cherokee word meaning "land of the noonday sun” — the Cherokee people lived here for almost 4,000 years — Nantahala lies just beyond the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With its neighbor, Pisgah National Forest, the Nantahala region welcomes millions of visitors annually. Though Nantahala is home to a township of the same name, the bulk of its rental cabins and vacation homes are located in Bryson City and Robbinsville, as well as mountain cabins and glamping options like yurts in Topton.

For scenery alone, fall is the best time to visit, when the trees are awash in gold, orange, and red. Peak foliage in Nantahala is around mid-October but can start as early as September at higher elevations and end as late as November, depending on the weather in any given year. April is a beautiful time to visit, when the winter snow thaws and makes way for colorful wildflower blooms. If you’re coming to Nantahala for the rapids, you’ll want to book a cabin rental for warmer months like May or June, when rafting season is at its peak. Summers in Nantahala are warm and green, but also among the busiest times of year to visit, particularly between July and August, when schools are out.

Nantahala River Gorge

Adventure-seekers from all over the globe visit Nantahala for its world-class whitewater rafting. Get your footing via the eight miles of Class II rapids before you attempt the Class III grand finale through Nantahala Falls. If whitewater rafting isn’t your thing, the Nantahala River also boasts kayaking, ziplining, fishing, jeep tours, horseback riding, and hiking.

The Cherohala Skyway

The windy 43-mile Cherohala Skyway snakes its way over 5,400-foot-tall mountains and through the forested lands of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Beginning in Tellico Plains and ending in Robbinsville, the skyway — whose name is derived from combining the national forests, Cherokee and Nantahala, through which it passes — is a popular route among motorcyclists.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

If you don’t feel like driving, kick up your feet and be a mere observer on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. This 44-mile, 4.5-hour round trip from Bryson City Depot takes you over the Fontana Trestle bridge, across Fontana Lake, and through the Nantahala Gorge.