Bryson City Weekend - Uphillhike
3599
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-3599,single-format-standard,qode-quick-links-1.0,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,qode_grid_1300,qode-content-sidebar-responsive,qode-theme-ver-11.0,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.0.1,vc_responsive

Bryson City Weekend

May 2 -3

My wife and daughter joined me for a weekend get-away in Bryson City. It was a chance for me to show them a little piece of what I had been hiking in the Smokies for the past several years.

We didn’t rough it, but the inexpensive Relax Inn ($55) in Bryson City even if not luxurious, was near Main Street and practical. Leaving Roswell early Saturday morning we drove past Bryson City and continued on to Clingman’s Dome Road for a nice walk (Forney Ridge Trail 3.4 miles roundtrip) down to Andrew’s Bald. We were back in Bryson City having lunch at Jimmy Mac’s around 2 PM.

andrews bald meadow

Sandra and Rebecca relaxing on Andrew’s Bald
 

 

Sandra and I on Andrew’s Bald with Welch Ridge in background. The prominent high point on Welch Ridge is High Top with great views.
 

We checked into the Relax Inn and Sandra did some shopping on Everett Street, then we headed over to Deep Creek where the 3 of us hiked the Juny Whank Falls Loop. Sandra and Rebecca continued on the loop as I walked and ran the horse trail to Deep Creek trail where we rejoined. I then walked quickly back up Juny Whank Falls Loop from the other direction to pick up that missing segment. With the running, my thighs were in pain. Finally, I ran/walked the remainder of the horse trail all of the way back to the Nolan Divide trail while Sandra and Rebecca drove over to pick me up.

We went out for dinner at https://www.facebook.com/AnthonysItalianRestaurantNC where we sat outside with a full moon and listened to live music. Across the street was the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Next we walked over to the Nantahala Brewing Company where we listened to an all girl band, Dogwood Winter and I enjoyed a little Trail Magic (ale).

Poster at Nantahala Brewing Company explaining the Trail Magic I had.

Sunday morning we drove to the nearby “Road to Nowhere”. I had planned on amazing Sandra and Rebecca with a very dark and spooky tunnel, but it had been painted a light color, covering all but the most recent grafitti. The new paint lightened up the tunnel a great deal making it easy to see the ground as you walked to the other end. No longer scary.

We walked the Nolan Creek trail down to Fontana Lake and back up past the road before getting in our car and heading home.