This National Park Gateway Is The 'Outdoor Adventure Capital Of The Great Smoky Mountains'

Bryson City, North Carolina, is a cool mountain town full of outdoor adventure activities. It is also a southern gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most popular national park in the entire United States.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best for a road trip. No wonder more than 12 million people visit the Southeast national park, which straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee, each year. Most of those visitors approach the national park from the north around either Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. That area has been built up with large resorts and waterparks. The southern, or North Carolina, side of the park has a different vibe. It is a lot more mellow. One of its entrances (a daily parking tag is $5), the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, is home to two elk herds, historic buildings, and quiet trails. Bryson City, a scenic town known as Smoky Mountains' adventure capital, is an underrated gateway to the park and less than 15 miles away. It's known for its breweries and restaurants as much as its lake and river access.

The small town, which is home to only about 1,500 people, sits in Western North Carolina. Asheville is about an hour away. Greenville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga are all around a two-hour drive. Charlotte and Atlanta, which both have large airports, are about three hours away. That makes Bryson City a great escape from the city.

Bryson City straddles the Tuckasegee River where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Great Smoky Mountains. In the center of town, you will find the historic Swain County Courthouse, built in 1908 and on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now home to the Swain County Heritage Museum, which has exhibits about the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The center of Bryson City is also home to many locally owned businesses. You will find antique shops, bookstores, and thrift stores. Art galleries showcase pottery, jewelry, and sculptures. Outfitters offer all the gear you need for days on the lakes, rivers, and in the mountains. The Smoky Mountain Farmers & Artisans Market displays freshly picked vegetables and homemade baked goods. Coffee shops and food trucks offer quick bites to eat. Then breweries, including Bryson City Brewing and Mountain Layers Brewing Company, let you celebrate adventures at the end of the day.

One of the adventures you will not want to miss is a bucket list-worthy ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Their scenic train rides depart from the Bryson City Depot. They go through river gorges, across bridges and valleys, and through tunnels. The Tuckasegee River Excursion (from $63.13 per adult) is a four-hour trip with a stop in historic Dillsboro. Or the Nantahala Gorge Excursion (from $63.72 per adult) is a four-and-a-half-hour trip across a reservoir and into the beautiful gorge.

After exploring the center of Bryson City and seeing how stunning the area is during a train ride, you will surely be itching to get even closer to the action. Fontana Lake sits on the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The remote lake is a reservoir that was created by the Fontana Dam, which is the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains. It is 29 miles long and has more than 240 miles of shoreline. That is a lot of space for boating, fishing, and paddling. Its 30-mile Lakeshore Trail hugs the north shore of the lake. Though a challenging trail, it offers access to isolated campsites, fishing holes, and waterfalls.

The nearby Tsali Recreation Area ($2 trail-use fee per day), named after a local Cherokee who lived in the area, is a popular destination for mountain bikers and horseback riders. It has a four-loop trail system that covers 40 miles and provides great views of Fontana Lake and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Tsali Campground ($20 per night) also has 42 first-come, first-served sites from mid-April through October.

The Nantahala River is a whitewater-rafting mecca as well. The Class III river flows through the Nantahala Gorge in the Nantahala National Forest, the largest of North Carolina's four national forests. Nantahala Outdoor Center offers guided rafting trips (from $70 per person) for all levels. By this point, you definitely should have found your adrenaline fix around Bryson City.