Haywood County is one of my favorite places. I’ve been visiting this area for a long time, and my husband Mike and I got married there in 2024. Located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in western North Carolina, the area blends natural beauty with local charm. Located only a few hours from several major cities (3.5 hours from Atlanta, 3 hours from Charlotte, and 4.5 hours from Nashville), it is a great spot for a visit with tons of things to do!

Hikes

Haywood County has some amazing hikes! All of the trails I included are dog-friendly.

Black Balsam Knob

1.4 miles round trip

This is one of my all-time favorite hikes, and it’s extra special to me because Mike and I got married here! The trail starts in a beautiful balsam and spruce forest and then climbs up to a gorgeous mountain bald. The hike up to Black Balsam Knob is only about 0.7 miles from the trailhead, but you can continue on the Art Loeb trail for a longer hike. 

A fun option is to do the nine-mile loop through Black Balsam, Tennent Mountain, and Graveyard Fields. 

Note that the small parking area fills up quickly, so I recommend hiking early in the morning or around sunset.

Read my detailed post on backpacking Black Balsam Knob here.

Soco Falls

0.6 miles round trip

This is a super short and steep trail down to the bottom of Soco Falls. You don’t have to hike down to see the falls; there is a viewing platform near the top of the trail.

Waterrock Knob

1.2 miles round trip

This is a quick 1.2 mile trail located along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail begins at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center parking lot, which also has a great overlook. The trail is paved for the first 0.25 miles and then transitions to a dirt trail. It steadily climbs uphill the entire hike. In the spring and summer, blooming rhododendrons line the trail. The top of the hike has several rock outcrops with 360-degree views.

Max Patch

1.5 miles round trip

This is a fairly easy loop to get to a grassy meadow at the top with panoramic views. The trail is far from civilization, located near the North Carolina & Tennessee border. The top is a popular place for picnics and kite flying. Max Patch was cleared in the 1800s for cattle grazing, which created today’s open bald. The bald is now maintained to preserve its meadow character. The parking lot is tiny, so get there early! We started our hike on a Thursday around 10 am and got one of the only parking spots left.

Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower

1.5 miles round trip

This is a fun trail up to an old fire tower. There isn’t much of a parking lot, more of a small pull-off from the Blue Ridge Parkway. A gate marks the start of the gravel service road leading up Fryingpan Mountain. The road climbs steadily but isn’t too steep. Once you reach the lookout tower, you can climb up to the top for the best views! This is a lesser-known trail; we were one of only two groups hiking the morning we visited.

Activities

Blue Ridge Parkway

This is one of the most beautiful roads in America. It goes all the way from Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. There are lots of scenic overlooks and hikes along the parkway that you can stop at. There are four primary access points to the Parkway within Haywood County. Just make sure to check for road closures before you leave. The Parkway is often closed in winter and during/after storms.

Maggie Valley

Soco Craft Tower

This is a little touristy, but for $1, you can climb the nine-story observation tower to get a great view of Maggie Valley. I thought this was a fun quick stop! The tower is typically open April through November. There is also a gift shop that offers a variety of souvenirs. 

Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum

The world’s best collection of rare American motorcycles and memorabilia is located at the Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum. It features over 300 rare and vintage motorcycles, many in operational condition.

Trout fishing in Jonathan’s Creek

This creek is a well-known creek among anglers. It is regularly stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Make sure to get a North Carolina fishing license beforehand as it is required by the state.

Attend a festival at Maggie Valley Festival Grounds

The Festival Grounds in Maggie Valley host many events throughout the year. There are a wide range of festivals, from arts and crafts to motorcycle rallies. Check out the schedule before your visit.

Waynesville

Shopping in Waynesville

There are lots of cute shops to explore in Waynesville’s downtown area. The town’s walkable area is home to over 50 unique shops, boutiques, and galleries. Some of the shops are even dog friendly.

Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska offers a serene retreat with a variety of activities. Rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard; spend a day on the golf course; take a guided cruise around the lake; play mini golf or shuffleboard; enjoy a game of tennis or pickleball; or walk around the paved lakeside trail. 

Cherokee

While Cherokee is not technically in Haywood County, it is nearby. I thought these two activities were worth mentioning!

Smoky Mountain National Park

Smoky Mountain National Park is the perfect day trip destination if you are staying in this area. This is the most visited national park in the United States, with over 12 million visitors in 2024. The entrance to the park is just outside of Cherokee.

Read my detailed post about our day trip to Smoky Mountain National Park here.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

Harrah’s Cherokee is North Carolina’s largest casino, with over 3,000 gaming machines and 160 game tables. Within the resort, there are multiple dining options, four hotel towers, a spa, and golf club. I thought the casino was very nice.

Canton

Tubing on the Pigeon River

The Pigeon River goes through Canton and provides a gentle float with mild rapids. There are a couple companies in Canton that offer services for tubing adventures. The companies will shuttle you to the launch point and the float will take between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on water levels.

Where to Eat

Maggie Valley

Joey’s Pancake House

Joey’s Pancake House is one of the best breakfast spots we’ve ever been to and is a staple in Maggie Valley! Their hashbrown casserole, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burrito, and pancakes are all incredible. Their staff are super friendly and add to the charm of the restaurant. They tend to have an early morning rush when they open, so I recommend getting there a little later. The last time we visited, we arrived around 9:30am and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table.

BearWaters Brewing: Creekside

An awesome brewery right along Jonathan’s Creek. They have great beers and food. We always make sure to stop here when we are in town. The patio is also dog friendly.

Brickhouse Burgers & Pizza

One of our favorite pizza places ever! We typically get the Cowboy Pizza. So delicious.

Maggie Valley Sandwich Shop

A great local place to grab a sandwich on your way to your next adventure.

Waynesville 

Frog Level Brewing

This is one of our favorite spots to get a meal and a beer in the area. Located in the Frog Level District of Waynesville, it was the first brewery in Haywood County. The entire inside and outside area is dog-friendly, which we love. Every meal we’ve had here has been delicious. Try the brisket mac and cheese, my favorite! Their outdoor area is large and is right on the creek.

The Cheesecake Mousse

Our favorite dessert place in Haywood County is The Cheesecake Mousse. This is a small bakery offering a variety of cheesecake mousse, which is a hybrid between cheesecake and mousse (profound, I know!). Our favorite flavors are cookie butter, cookies and cream, and cake batter. We stock up and take several home with us every time we’re in the area.

Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters

Delicious coffee, smoothies, and one of the best chai tea lattes I’ve ever had!

Canton

Southern Porch

A charming family-owned restaurant in downtown Canton that serves southern dishes. We loved sitting on the front porch when we ate there!

Where to Stay

There are lots of options for places to stay in Haywood County. There aren’t many upscale or luxury hotels, but I think that adds to the charm.

Maggie Valley

There are several smaller motels and cabin rentals in Maggie Valley. We’ve stayed at the Comfort Inn and it was just what we needed for an easy getaway. There are several cabin rentals right in town like this one. It’s also worth going a little bit outside of town for even better mountain views!

Waynesville

There aren’t a lot of hotel options in Waynesville. We’ve stayed at the Best Western right outside of town, and it is an affordable and nice option. There’s also a great mountain view from the parking lot.

Lake Junaluska 

Lake Junaluska is just north of Waynesville and is a small community centered around the lake. There are a couple hotels, including Lambuth Inn and The Terrace, which are very nice. There are also lots of great property rentals as well.

Canton

Canton is a great location if you want to be close to both Haywood County and Asheville. Lodging will be considerably cheaper here than in Asheville, and it’s only about a 20 minute drive to the downtown area. Once again, there aren’t a ton of hotel options, but Quality Inn is a good option if you want to go that route.

Cherokee

Cherokee has a few options for hotels. If you are spending time at the Harrah’s Casino, the attached hotel is a great and convenient option. Stonebrook Lodge Cherokee is a nice hotel in Cherokee with rustic charm. Great Smokies Inn is an affordable option. There are also many good property rentals in the area.

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