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Nantahala National Forest (Cheoah Ranger District)

Best Hiking Trails in Nantahala National Forest (Cheoah Ranger District)

60 reviews


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  • Hiking Trails (71)
  • Reviews (60)
  1. 1
    Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest via Lower Loop Trail and Upper Loop Trail
    ★ ★ ★ EASY 1.9 mi
  2. 2
    The Hangover via Strawberry Knob
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 11.7 mi
  3. 3
    Strawberry Knob
    ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 6.8 mi
  4. 4
    Nantahala National Forest via Lower Loop Trail and Upper Loop Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 1.7 mi
  5. 5
    Nantahala National Forest via Appalachian Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 3.0 mi
  6. 6
    Nantahala National Forest Loop via Slickrock Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 12.6 mi
  7. 7
    Middle Falls via Big Snowbird
    ★ ★ ★ EASY 4.9 mi
  8. 8
    Nantahala National Forest via Slickrock Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 12.0 mi
  9. 9
    Nantahala National Forest via Hangover Lead Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 2.9 mi
  10. 10
    Cold Spring Knob Loop via Slickrock Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 9.8 mi
    user_profile stars
    Mark S 1 week, 3 days ago
    Art Stewart Ridge
    Overgrown with a limited view. Do Hooper Bald instead if possible. The trail however is level and fully paved in case someone is in a wheelchair.
    ★

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    Randal Petty 11 months ago
    Santeelah Creek
    Santeelah Creek road passable up to Cherohala Skyway JUNE 27 2025. A few campers along the way. Some fresh trees down but nothing blocking the road
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Doug Holmes 1 year, 10 months ago
    Wildcat and lower falls
    Headed home. Glf
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ThickWetland1651 2 years, 10 months ago
    Track (7/22/23, 10:10:26AM)
    Great hike from Fontana to Tapoco Lodge on the Benton Mackaye trail. The trail was in much better shape than I anticipated for this time of year. Already thinking how great a hike it will be this fall!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    DocMartin 2 years, 11 months ago
    NCT-16-Snowbird
    This route open 4/1 to 12/31 only
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    FreeShovel9696 3 years, 1 month ago
    Track (4/1/23, 11:39:37AM)
    This is one of the best wildflower hikes for early April, but what would otherwise be a moderately difficult hike becomes much more difficult due to numerous tree, falls from dead hemlock
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    TrueBinos4301 3 years, 5 months ago
    Wolf Laurel Hunter camp to Hangover
    There are really only 2 serious climbs getting to the Hangover, one being up to the junction with Stratton Bald trail and the other one at the ascent up to saddle tree gap. Very well marked and the views at the hangover are some of the best in the east. Quite a few campsites along the way and apparently plenty of water sources according to locals, which I did not search for.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    GentleThicket8585 3 years, 9 months ago
    Lil Snowbird Farm to Sassafrass Falls hiking trail
    Beautiful drive along Big Snowbird creek beneath a canopy of forest on Big Snowbird Rd. Road Dead ends at the trail head which has 3 spectacular waterfalls along the hike.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    GentleThicket8585 3 years, 9 months ago
    Sassafras Falls to Lil Snowbird Farm
    The road along Big Snowbird creek is a drive through a rainforest canopy which ends at a hiking trailhead to Middle Falls, Upper Falls and Sassafras falls. Just an all around beautiful experience.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    SteepFir2248 4 years, 8 months ago
    Track (9/4/21, 2:03:49PM)
    Took longer than anticipated, bee’s were abundant, but overall great hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    SimpleBamboo4009 4 years, 10 months ago
    Cherohala forest service road
    Great gravel roads. Little traffic Mostly tight pack, fast gravel.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    uvabarnett 5 years, 9 months ago
    Bartram Trail, Ledbetter Creek to Cheoah Bald
    This is a hard hike. Ended up ~1.5 miles longer than expected. Steep initial climb, levels out a bit around creek camp, then up rest of the way. Plan for extra water given the workout. Slippery rocks and several creek crossings. But beautiful wildflowers, fungi, and views well worth it.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Coleman Glover 7 months, 2 weeks ago
    Pine Ridge to Bob Bald, Graham County, NC, USA
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    PureStove7668 7 months, 4 weeks ago
    Yellow creek falls NC
    ★ ★ ★

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    Rob Bush 8 months, 3 weeks ago
    Saturday Morning Activity
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kevin.s.gil 1 year ago
    Sunday Morning Adventure Riding
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Bill Thomas 1 year, 1 month ago
    SEBDR - Maggie Valley to Tellico Plains, TN
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    RareGlide6584 1 year, 2 months ago
    Track (10/10/22, 10:17:54AM)
    ★

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    FreshBinos7081 1 year, 3 months ago
    Cheoah Bald hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    LongCompass7000 1 year, 7 months ago
    Cheoah bald from Ledbetter parking lot
    ★ ★

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    LongCompass7000 1 year, 7 months ago
    Cheoah bald from Ledbetter parking lot
    ★ ★

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    LongCompass7000 1 year, 7 months ago
    Cheoah bald from Ledbetter parking lot
    ★ ★

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    Michael 1 year, 8 months ago
    Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Loop via Stratton Bald Trail and Naked Ground Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    SweetPack8493 1 year, 10 months ago
    Strawberry Knob via Stratton Bald Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    OldBinos7319 1 year, 10 months ago
    Track (7/13/24, 10:01:19)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    patrick9595 1 year, 11 months ago
    Snowbird creek with Kate
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    SimpleHaven1933 2 years, 1 month ago
    Naked Ground Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    stewarthh01 2 years, 1 month ago
    Snowbird Creek Trail 64
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    WindySki3031 2 years, 1 month ago
    Cheoah down
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ThickWetland1651 2 years, 5 months ago
    Track (12/22/23, 10:59:28AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    LittleFlurry3167 2 years, 7 months ago
    Track (10/19/23, 1:49:30PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Dean McGinnis 2 years, 7 months ago
    Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Loop via Stratton Bald Trail and Naked Ground Trail
    ★

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    ghani782 2 years, 8 months ago
    Cheoah Bald via Bartram Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    WarmWetsuit8880 2 years, 8 months ago
    Bob bald
    ★

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    WarmWetsuit8880 3 years, 1 month ago
    Track (4/4/23, 9:33:32AM)
    ★ ★

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    alex.field 3 years, 3 months ago
    Joyce Kilmer hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    SafeSquall1894 3 years, 3 months ago
    Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest via Lower Loop Trail and Upper Loop Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    JustLaurel9243 3 years, 4 months ago
    bushlovwalking
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ThickWetland1651 3 years, 4 months ago
    Track (1/16/23, 1:28:00PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Ron Van Alstyne 3 years, 4 months ago
    Hangover Lead Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    WarmWetsuit8880 3 years, 4 months ago
    C141 johns knob
    ★ ★

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    LongBluff8409 3 years, 7 months ago
    Santeetlah Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    QuickReef4499 3 years, 8 months ago
    Sassafras falls and Big Snowbird falls
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    BrightPoncho7074 4 years, 7 months ago
    Track (10/14/21, 2:39:41PM)
    ★

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    NeatAlder3497 4 years, 7 months ago
    Yellow Creek Falls
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    BrightPoncho7074 4 years, 7 months ago
    Huckleberry Knob
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    SillySpring8064 4 years, 8 months ago
    Bob Bald
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Bailey Kessing 5 years, 1 month ago
    Wolf Laurel Trail to Slickrock Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Bailey Kessing 5 years, 1 month ago
    Track (4/18/21, 1:23:58PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    DetroitENP 5 years, 2 months ago
    Bob bald water from junction
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    DetroitENP 5 years, 2 months ago
    Wolf Laurel ➡️ Bob Bald
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ToughHarness6596 5 years, 5 months ago
    Huckleberry Knob
    ★ ★

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    The Flying Waltini 5 years, 6 months ago
    15.25 mi 7.30 hrs Jacobs to Cody plus 2 more miles
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    The Flying Waltini 5 years, 7 months ago
    11 mi 6 hrs Simp Gap turnaround Brown shelter and back
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    DynamicSummit7859 5 years, 7 months ago
    Track (10/1/20, 11:39:40AM)Yellow Creek Falls
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    QuickLily1177 5 years, 8 months ago
    Lake Santeelah 8/23/20
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    CrispFlask9333 6 years ago
    SlickRock Hike Out
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Sixthmankid1 6 years ago
    Track (4/27/20, 3:30:22PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Sixthmankid1 6 years, 1 month ago
    Track (4/4/20, 12:06:07PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Matt 6 years, 2 months ago
    Ike branch trail 3/22/20
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★