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"Take an online tour of Clay County and see the beauty and activities we have to offer!"
What Will The Mountains Call You To Do?
Get Your Hands Dirty...
Tap into your creative soul at the John C. Campbell Folk School. With classes for arts & crafts, painting, blacksmithing, wood-carving, pottery, music, dancing and more, the Folk School offers experiences in hands-on learning that will last a lifetime.
Take The Plunge...
When you’re ready to get your feet wet, take the plunge and go whitewater rafting on the nearby Ocoee and Nantahala Rivers. Outfitters offer excursions at all skill levels, from family-fun to the thrill of kayaking class IV rapids. So go on, get your feet wet!
Find A Treasure...
Searching for that perfect antique table for your home? Or simply enjoy browsing furniture and collectibles that remind you of grandma’s house? Local shops, antique stores and flea markets provide endless opportunities for discovering that just-gotta-have-it, one-of-a-kind treasure.
Pull On Your Boots...
Maybe you’re not ready to tackle all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail, but pull on your boots anyway and head for one of dozens of trailheads nearby. Enjoy a slow, peaceful walk in the woods, a ramble along a rushing creek, or an adrenaline-pumping climb up Standing Indian Mountain. Whatever your skill level and experience, Clay County offers you the chance to leave the everyday world behind.
Cast A Fly...
The western North Carolina mountains are just brimming with wild creeks and rivers that offer perfect opportunities for some of the best trout fishing east of the Mississippi. Fish for browns, rainbow, brooks and more in the secluded pools of the Hiawassee River and the icy cold rushing waters of Fires Creek, Tusquittee Creek and numerous other creeks and streams found all over Clay County.
Peer Into The Past...
Stroll around the square and learn about our Native American and Appalachian past. Visit the historic Courthouse, the Old Jail Museum, the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit and the Hayesville Centennial Exhibit for a taste of pioneer life of past generations.
Enjoy The Fruit Of The Vine...
Mild weather, with short winters, early spring, sunny summers and cool crisp autumns makes for ideal growing conditions at our local vineyards. Add breathtaking scenery and quiet uncrowded wineries and you’ve got the best possible vineyard visit!
Visit A Farm...
Take your pick– a goat creamery, an organic herb farm, an alpaca herd, a pick-your-own berry farm, a working cattle ranch. Local farmers and ranchers welcome visitors to their farms and are ready to help you learn all about their crops and herds and offer a taste of their harvests.
Wander Through A Waterfall...
With ample rainfall and craggy rock-strewn rivers and streams, waterfalls abound in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Western North Carolina is home to dozens if not hundreds of waterfalls. Not only will you find Leatherwood Falls right here in the Fires Creek area, but numerous others are within a short drive. Your waterfall adventure might have you finding falls along the Appalachian Trail, or falls you can walk behind, or view from a swinging footbridge high above.
Or Do Nothing At All...
Imagine waking up to the sounds of the birds, gazing at a mountain sunrise, swinging in a hammock beside a rushing creek, doing a jigsaw puzzle in front of cozy fireplace, toasting marshmallows over a crackling campfire, visiting with friends and family on the rocking chair front porch… You can do all these things and more when you stay at one of the many cabin and cottage rentals or commercial lodging choices we have here here in our little corner of the mountains. You can do it all, or you can do nothing at all…
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