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Lake Junaluska walking path | Difficulty: Easy

  • Distance from house: 15 minutes

  • Length of trail: 2.3 mile (loop)

  • Highlights:  A very pretty walk around the lake on a paved, mostly flat walkway. Great view of the water, surrounding mountains and some very nice homes.  There's also some sports equipment in the garage you can bring with you if you want to play tennis, putt putt, shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, or corn hole at the various courts and courses at the lake.

Waterrock Knob | Difficulty: Moderate

  • Distance from house: 17 minutes

  • Length of trail: 1 mile (out and back)

  • Highlights:  Moderately difficult, well traveled trail. Amazing long range views from the parking area and at the top.  Well worth the hike. Great place to watch a sunrise or sunset.  Check for Blue Ridge parkway road closures (milepost 455).

Soco Falls | Difficulty: Easy

  • Distance from house: 11 minutes

  • Length of trail: 0.2 mile (out and back)

  • Highlights:  Check out the 120 foot double waterfall from the viewing platform.  Scramble down the rocks to get to the base of the waterfall for the best view.  There is also another trail along the creek.

Cataloochee Waterfall and trail| Difficulty: Easy

  • Distance from house: 10 minutes

  • Length of trail: Less than 1 mile (out and back)

  • Highlights:  The waterfall is only 500 feet from the trailhead.  Trailhead is not marked, but is right across from Cataloochee Ski Area main building (I have a picture if needed).  To get down to the waterfall, there are some rocks and roots you need to navigate, but there are rope railings. The trail continues beyond the waterfall if you choose not to go down to see it.  This is not very well known so you probably won’t see many people. You may not have cell reception here.  Bonus: There’s a beautiful view of the mountains and valley from the gravel road to the Ski Area.

Mountains to Sea trail (Soco Gap) | Difficulty: Moderate

  • Distance from house: 10 minutes

  • Length of trail: 4 miles (out and back)

  • Highlights: A beautiful walk through the woods.  No waterfalls or scenic overlooks, but you’re unlikely to encounter other people.  Very peaceful.  This is one section of the full 1,175 MST trail that runs from the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks.

Devil's Courthouse | Difficulty: Moderate

  • Distance from house: About 1 hour

  • Length of trail: 0.8 miles (out and back)

  • Highlights:  Short trail that’s pretty steep, but well traveled and well marked.  Great views at the top!

Graveyard fields | Difficulty: Moderate

  • Distance from house: About 1 hour

  • Length of trail: 0.3 miles or 3.5 mile loop

  • Highlights:  This hike includes some wooded areas, fields and 2 sets of waterfalls (upper and lower) depending on how far you want to hike.  The lower falls are less than a half mile from the trailhead.

Looking Glass Falls | Difficulty: Easy

  • Distance from house: 1 hour and 10 minutes

  • Length of trail: 0.3 miles

  • Highlights:  60 foot waterfall with an easy route.  Pretty popular so you’re likely to see lots of people

Black Balsam | Difficulty: Easy

  • Distance from house: 1 hour

  • Length of trail: 1.4 miles (out and back)

  • Highlights:  Great views from this fairly easy hike.  Popular area so there will likely be lots of people.

The Boogerman Trail | Difficulty: Moderate

  • Distance from house: 45 minutes

  • Length of trail: 7.3 mile (loop)

  • Highlights:  Beautiful walk through the wood with several creek crossings (you’re likely to get wet).  No dogs allowed

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