The Ultimate Bryson City, NC Autumn Weekend Itinerary

A Perfect Smoky Mountain Weekend

Make Bryson City, NC your base camp for a quick autumn getaway in the Smokies!  

Summer is coming to an end and leaf peeping season is approaching in the Smokies! With warm days and crisp nights, autumn offers prime weather for hiking, camping, and paddling Southern Appalachia’s pristine rivers. Positioned near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Appalachian Trail, and our 500-acre campus on the Nantahala River, Bryson City, North Carolina makes a perfect base camp for exploring the region. This guide outlines the perfect itinerary for a fall weekend spent outside in the mountains of Western North Carolina!  

Friday Night

Settle In 

Bryson City is an easy 3-3.5 hour drive from both Atlanta and Charlotte. And there are multiple lodging options in the area, including right on our NOC campus! Stay steps away from the river and trails in your choice of cozy cabins, bungalows, micro-lodge rooms, or classic campsites under the stars. Take advantage of NOC’s Fall Stay and Play package and save 30% on 2+ nights of lodging and select outdoor activities.

If you’re looking for something closer to downtown Bryson City, the National Park Service maintains Deep Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Deep Creek offers 60 tent-only campsites along one of the area’s most popular creeks. However, cell phone reception and showers are nonexistent there, so plan accordingly!  

Fuel Up 

After settling into your accommodations (or pitching your tent), use the rest of the evening to fuel up for a busy weekend ahead. Bryson City has a variety of restaurants to choose from, including right on the NOC campus! River’s End Restaurant is our gastro pub located alongside the Nantahala River, serving entrees like local trout alongside specialty cocktails. Plus, outside seating allows guests to take in the crisp Autumn air and sounds of the river while you’re enjoying your meal! 

Another local favorite is The Rice Wagon, a little food truck tucked behind Mountain Layers Brewing that serves delicious Hawaiian cuisine. We highly recommend the pork belly skewer or the rice bowls with garlic chicken and kalua pork! After grabbing a bite to eat, head next door to Mountain Layers Brewing to enjoy sipping local craft beer on the rooftop patio. Mountain Layers has three mainstay brews: a wheat beer, an IPA, and a blonde plus rotating and seasonal offerings. The brewery hosts live musicians on many Friday nights – check out their Facebook page for the live music schedule. 

Saturday Morning

Take a Hike 

After a good night’s rest, take advantage of the cool morning with a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! The Deep Creek area has plenty of trails to choose from, including those that lead to waterfall views. Here are our recommendations:  

• For a more mellow hike, check out Juney Whank Falls. This is an easy 0.6 mile loop trail with big rewards! Expect 144 ft. of elevation gain on your way to the falls.  
• Looking to cover a little more ground? Hike the Deep Creek Waterfall Loop to pass by Juney Whank Falls plus Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek Falls over the course of 2.4 miles. This loop has 413 ft. of elevation gain and follows Deep Creek for a good portion of the hike.  
• If you’re interested in a guided hike at Deep Creek, you can book one through NOC here!

If you’re still itching to explore more of the national park, head over to the Lakeview Drive area, locally referred to as the Road to Nowhere. This scenic, six-mile stretch of road was left unfinished after a promised project stalled in the 1960s, ending abruptly at a tunnel and earning its nickname. Trek through the tunnel on foot to reach a network of hiking trails on the other side, including Goldmine Loop and Lakeshore Trails. You can learn more about the Road to Nowhere’s history and its significance to Swain County residents here.  

Tip: Don’t forget to get a $5 daily parking tag from the national park. These are available at the kiosk in the Deep Creek parking lot. Also, please note that dogs are not allowed on hiking trails at Deep Creek or Lakeview Drive. We love when you bring your leashed dog to the NOC, though! The Appalachian Trail near the NOC is dog friendly if you’re looking to hike with your furry friend.  

Stop for Brunch 

After your hike, stop by Mountain Perks Espresso Bar and Cafe for your caffeine fix. Mountain Perks also has an extensive breakfast and lunch menu with tons of gluten free options. Build your own bagel sandwich or try one of the many wrap options. Be warned – the wraps are massive! But you’ll need the energy for the rest of your adventure-packed day.  

Saturday Afternoon

Hit the River 

After a relaxing morning on the trail, it’s time for some action! Head over to NOC to experience the autumn colors from a raft or ducky on the river. With a mix of splashy class II-III rapids and calmer sections perfect for sightseeing, the Nantahala is the perfect family friendly whitewater adventure.  

Whether you choose a fully guided adventure or self-paced paddle, all trips end at Nantahala Falls, a class III rapid that adds just the right amount of action. You have the option to view and purchase your group’s trip photos online or on campus! 

Reward Yourself 

After an afternoon on the river, treat yourself to a well-deserved bite to eat at Big Wesser, NOC’s open-air riverside pub. Big Wesser’s menu features burgers, fresh salads, and the crowd favorite Nantahala Nachos. Add pulled pork for extra deliciousness! After your meal, kick back in our adirondack chairs by the river with a cold beer or cocktail to unwind. But don’t get too comfortable – the day’s not over yet. 

Watch the Sun Set on a Perfect Day 

What could possibly make the fall colors pop even more? A Nantahala Gorge sunset from the Wesser Bald Fire Tower. Originally built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the original structure burned down in the late 1970s. The US Forest Service replaced it with an observation deck in the 1990s to provide hikers with breathtaking views.   

From the Nantahala Outdoor Center, navigate to Tellico Gap, about a 30 minute drive away. From Tellico Gap, hop on the Appalachian Trail for a little over a mile. Once you get to the top of the bald, climb up the 30 ft. tall fire tower for breathtaking, 360 degree sunset views of the Nantahala Gorge. We promise it is well worth the steep hike!  

Tip: Make sure to bring headlamps for the descent back to the car. And please note that the drive up to Tellico Gap is on a dirt road.  

Sunday Morning

Breakfast at River’s End

Make sure to get some solid sleep on Saturday night, because Sunday is packed with more adventure! Before kicking things off, stop by River’s End at NOC for a hearty breakfast. The menu has classics like french toast and omelets while featuring novelties like the Breakfast “Pounders” Burritos. We can’t overstate how many guests rave over the burritos.

Zip Around 

Up next – ziplining! Our Mountaintop Zipline Tour features nearly two miles of zip lines from treetop to treetop, creating a uniquely spectacular leaf viewing experience in autumn. Guests enjoy panoramic views of the NOC adventure campus before hitting the highlight of the course – the ½ Mile Mega Zip. Expect to spend just under a full minute soaring over 360-degree views of the Nantahala Gorge and Blue Ridge Parkway.  

If you worked up an appetite ziplining, grab lunch at River’s End Restaurant, Big Wesser, or the Rice Wagon – whichever one you haven’t tried yet!

Sunday Afternoon

After a weekend filled with both excitement and relaxation, Sunday afternoon means it is time to head back home. If you’re able to stay in the area an extra day, we highly recommend hopping on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City to experience the season from an entirely new vantage point!   

 We hope this guide has been helpful in planning your next autumn weekend getaway to the mountains of North Carolina! Drive safe and come back and see us.  

 One final tip: If you’re heading south from NOC, do yourself a favor and stop at Hoppy Trout in Andrews, NC for delicious brick oven pizza and very friendly folks.   

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