We were going towards Chattanooga and surprisingly we passed this national forest and we were amazed to see this beautiful forest. Spectacular water streams which are used for rafting. It was nice cool weather and slight rainy day that made the perfect spot for us to see the beauty. We will visit this forest again, lovely place.

We did the Spirit Ridge hike with a friend in a wheelchair. Totally accessible and has a gorgeous view at the end. Lots of spring wildflowers too.

The scenery is simply amazing! A simple drive through some of these roads is just breathtaking. I drove down from Gatlinburg Tennessee took Highway 19 and 74 across North Carolina towards Chattanooga. 90% of that drive the road ran along side the river. It was beautiful! I love it and definitely want to go back and explore some more of this great forest, the trails, the waterfalls, rivers, and other activities.

We have the best of times every time we visit western North Carolina. Such wonderful geography within the state. While visiting we make every attempt to ride roads we have not rode before, as this leads to spectacular views during different seasons. You will always see something different. Take the time to immerse yourself in the history N. Carolina has to offer.

Breathtaking!! All our hikes on vacation and this was my favorite view!! It was like watching a movie or looking at a painting. Really can't describe how incredibly beautiful this place was!

This forrest in a beautiful sanctuary for wildlife. There were half-a-dozen bass boats who were out on the water enjoying an unseasonably warm winter's day. The particular location was the Hanging Dog recreation area. One definitely wonders how it got such a strange name. This boat ramp puts into the massive Hiwassi lake, the waters held back by the dam of the same name. It takes hours just to drive around this huge reservoir. You can see that the water is low this time of the year. Between the high and the low water line--a considerable distance--there is a sleep slope of rocks of all colors shapes and sizes. It would be a geologist's dream to sift through what appeared to be granite, marble, quartz and what looked like slate. Oddly, there was no plant growth, or much sign of life between the high and low water lines. So the waterside was interesting but not at all what we expected. The roads in the park are curvaceous and narrow--but nevertheless well maintained with fresh gravel. Judging from the local custom, there must be good fishing in the extensive clean stretches of water.

Absolutely beautiful! Just make sure you plan ahead- where you are going/staying, what you want to visit, if/when those places are open, etc. Finding an AirB&B/ VRBO/ hotel/ campground/ etc., is not always that easy around here (especially in the summer months), so make sure you plan ahead! Also, in the mountains, many stores & restaurants are not open every day, and they often close pretty early compared to what you might be used to from bigger cities. So, again, research in advance and make sure to call and confirm their days and hours as Google is not always accurate (for example, schedules sometimes change if the owner goes on vacation, and Google won't know that!) As I said, things are different in the mountains and it's something that takes a bit of adapting! Lol But the views and experience make adapting totally worth it!

Awesome National Forest set in the beautiful blue ridge mountains, one of my favorites for sure! There are so many good hikes for beginners through experts, if you're a hiker or just love the great outdoors it's definitely a beautiful park to check out.

Less crowd and nice place for hikes. There are many different falls in this forest. We stopped by few overlooks which were on our way to skinny dip falls.

What a great place to hike. Dog friendly. Scenic and peaceful. I saw some kids swimming. We enjoyed the forest. There were plenty of picnic areas available

What a gorgeous forest! They seem to offer everything an outdoor enthusiast needs. The scenery is just breathtaking. The waterfalls are amazing. A lot of hiking and a lot of rafting. The scenic roadway is stunning as well.

This is a beautiful place to visit the vew is amazing the peace✌(◕‿-)✌ you feel all the way up there is relaxing💆 🌹

A very beautiful place!!! Very mountainous and gorgeous! I'll send a few pics! We Loved sightseeing on our way to Blue Ridge Parkway!!! This was just right outside of Bryson City, North Carolina!

Beautiful place! A lot of nice hikes, beautiful waterfalls, and countless spots to swim! You get the pleasure of walking amongst the rhododendron and hydrangeas. What a treat!

Beautiful country. It's awesome to be able to disconnect and enjoy nature. I would challenge anyone to find more natural beauty than this. It is absolutely amazing what we have to enjoy while in nature. From the seclusion on the trails to the waterfalls this part of the country is absolutely amazing.

Fly fishing galore. Very quiet and beautiful. Average biggest size 8 inches from what we've heard. We had guides from Native Hookers from Bryson City. They were awesome.

Beautiful place! 1/2 mile trail. Beautiful sites by looking around at what God made. Waterfall was beautiful! There is no playground, no restrooms, or picnic area. I saw people with dogs.

We took a wrong turn and got lost in the area. We drove for 40 miles along the creeks/rivers of the forest and I can say it is one of the most beautiful places in the country. The waterfalls along the road were something else and I could not believe the number of fly fishermen parked in the pull-offs. I wish I had had the time to stop and take pictures. It was well worth the delay just to see the area.

A visual masterpiece. Apart from wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers, you can plan for fishing, camping also.