[Updated February 13, 2023]
Bryson City is surrounded by Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the north, Fontana Lake to the west, Cherokee NC to the east, and the Nantahala National Forest to the south.
So even a shortlist of the best things to do in Bryson City NC could include dozens of exciting activities that would take weeks for the average visitor to tackle.
From major attractions like the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and Nantahala Outdoor Center to lesser-known gems such as Deep Creek, the Road to Nowhere, and the Swain County Heritage Museum, there’s something here for every age and ability level.
Downtown Bryson City is one of the most charming mountain towns we’ve ever visited.
There’s a whole host of spectacular waterfalls, important historic sites, great fly-fishing for trout, and a fantastic array of hiking trails nearby.
Read on for our in-depth guide to the best Bryson City attractions and activities, including a map of all our favorite places in Swain County and the Great Smokies!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Cherokee NC
Best Things to Do in Bryson City NC Guide
- Celebrate Christmas in Bryson City
- Cool Down by Tubing Deep Creek
- Drive the “Road to Nowhere”
- Explore Downtown Bryson City
- Farm Getaway at the Folkestone Inn
- Go Back in Time at Mingus Mill
- Go Whitewater Rafting on the Nantahala River
- Have a Cabana Soak at Lakeview at Fontana
- Hike to 3 Deep Creek Waterfalls
- Learn History at the Swain County Heritage Museum
- Marvel at the View of Newfound Gap
- Picnic by the Tuckasegee River
- Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
- Sample Bryson City Restaurants
- See the Sights from Clingmans Dome
- See the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum
- Shop at Uncle Bunky’s Christmas Cottage
- Spend a Day at Fontana Lake
- Visit the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium
- Visit the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina for 2023
1. Celebrate Christmas in Bryson City
Though it may not be quite as big or flashy as Christmas in Asheville, Christmas in Bryson City is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays surrounded by small town charm.
Much like McAdenville NC (a.k.a. Christmas Town USA), Bryson City goes all out with the holiday decor, including Christmas lights covering practically every house, restaurant, and shop in the small town.
The main holiday attraction in Bryson City is the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s Polar Express Train ride.
Everyone shows up in pajamas as actors recreate scenes from the film, sing (and pass out) “Hot Chocolate,” and encourage audience participation in caroling en route to see Santa at his North Pole Village.
But there are also Christmas events at Darnell Farms, drive-thru Christmas lights at Great Smoky Mountains Event Park, a festive display at the Swain County Heritage Museum, and fun selfie spots around the downtown area.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Christmas Towns in North Carolina
2. Cool Down By Tubing Deep Creek
There are lots of great places for river tubing in North Carolina, including on the Nantahala River in the neighboring town of Cherokee NC.
But if you’re look for spectacular scenery as you gently float in cool, crisp mountain waters, there’s arguably no better place in the Blue Ridge Mountains than Deep Creek in Bryson City.
Located just inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Deep Creek is home to several of the most beautiful North Carolina waterfalls, including the 60-foot cascades of Tom Branch Falls.
There are several Bryson City tour operators that offer tube rentals, including the Deep Creek Tube Center, JJ’s Tube Rentals, and Tube World.
You can also rent tubes from the Smoky Mountain Campground, one of the most popular Great Smoky Mountain Campgrounds, which is just outside the entrance to the park.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Campgrounds in/near Bryson City NC
3. Drive the “Road to Nowhere”
“STOLEN LAND.” If you explore the Road to Nowhere in Bryson City, you’ll see these words on multiple signs.
The road takes visitors on a gorgeous drive into the hills above Fontana Lake, 6 miles into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where it ends at a graffiti-covered tunnel that leads to… well, nowhere.
The road was built in the 1930s and 1940s, when hundreds of people were forced to leave the communities that had been their homes for generations to make way for the creation of Fontana Lake and the National Park.
Old Highway 288– the road to those communities– was buried beneath the waters of Fontana Lake.
The US government promised to replace it with a new road that would stretch 30 miles along the lake’s north shore, providing access to old family cemeteries where generations of ancestors had been buried.
Construction stopped after they ran into an environmental issue and was never resumed.
In 2010, the US Department of Interior signed a settlement agreement to pay Swain County $52 million in lieu of building the road.
Locals still hold a grudge today, reminding me of an old saying: “Think you can trust the Federal Government? Just ask an Indian.” I’m pretty sure the Cherokee people would have a lot to say on the subject of stolen land…
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Maggie Valley NC
4. Explore Downtown Bryson City
When we started our Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide in 2020, we had two goals: To find our future home in the mountains, and to share our favorite experiences along the way.
After 5 days of exploring Bryson City NC, the town had quickly risen to #1 on our list of Blue Ridge Mountain towns. The gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s an immensely charming small town with a population of around 1,700 people.
The downtown area is very walkable, with lots of cute shops (Loose Moose and McClanahan’s Collectibles were among our favorites), excellent restaurants, and the Tuckasegee River running right through its heart.
There are also several great museums (more on those later) and historic buildings that you can see on a short walking tour of the downtown business district.
Some of our favorites included the Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot (built in 1885), Bryson City Presbyterian Church (1890), the Swain County Visitor Center (built as a courthouse in 1908), and Gallery Zella (which was built in 1915 and housed the town’s second bank).
READ MORE: The 25 Best Western NC Small Towns To Visit (and Live In!)
5. Farm Getaway at the Folkestone Inn
If you like country farms, you’ll absolutely adore the Folkestone Inn Bed and Breakfast in Bryson City.
Located next to a cow pasture filled with wildflowers, the historic Inn is a working farm with chickens, ducks, dogs, and a sweet little Calico cat who was pretty sure she belonged in our room.
Inside, the decor was farmhouse chic, and our “Carson Farmhouse” room was named after the local man who built the historic home 100 years ago.
Owners Toni and Scott Rowe both worked in the culinary industry for decades: Scott is a Culinary Institute of America grad who was formerly Executive Chef for NC’s largest country club.
So naturally their breakfasts were remarkable, made with fresh eggs, vegetables, and fruits that were either grown on the property or nearby.
It’s an amazing place for anyone who loves animals, good food, or simply savoring the peace and tranquility of a relaxing mountain farm.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Treehouse Rentals in the North Carolina Mountains
6. Go Back in Time at Mingus Mill
Located just 14 miles from Bryson City, just inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, historic Mingus Mill was built in 1886 on the banks of Mingus Creek.
The grist mill was a major hub of both social activity and trade for local Appalachian communities during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Families from all around Western North Carolina would travel to Mingus Mill to get their corn milled, but while they were there they also bartered with others for various goods and services.
Mingus Mill stopped running its commercial operations back in the 1930s. But it still works, and is run by park employees today.
You can even buy fresh-ground cornmeal, flour, and other locally-made products when you visit!
READ MORE: 30 Fun Facts About North Carolina State History & Culture
7. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Nantahala River
If you’ve ever wanted to try whitewater rafting, the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City NC is by far the best place to start.
Compared to other rivers we’ve rafted (the New River in WV and the Chattahoochee, Ocoee, and Chattooga in GA), the Nantahala is remarkably gentle, with easy Class I-II rapids.
This leaves you plenty of time to gawk at the majestic peaks, gorgeous wildflowers, and million dollar mountain cabins along the way.
Our guide, Spencer, made it lots of fun by gently “bumping” into rocks and spinning in the rapids every so often. He also took us to a pair of secret caves along the way.
I’d done this trip back in the 1990s, and it was even more fun the second time. The NOC also has a fun adventure area for kids, a world-class kayaking course, excellent riverside restaurants, and a gear shop.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Cabin Rentals in Bryson City NC
8. Have a Cabana Soak at Lakeview at Fontana
We had a gloriously relaxing romantic getaway at the Lakeview at Fontana Resort, a classic mid-20th century motor lodge that has been redesigned and renovated with modern luxuries and classy decor.
Though our hotel room and the property amenities were all lovely, our favorite part was their “Soaking Cabana” spa treatment, which we scheduled right at sunset.
We made our way up the hill to a spacious cabana that provided a killer overview of the lake.
There was a large soaking tub big enough for two people to share, lots of flameless candles, bath salts, luxury bathrobes, and meditative music that helped to set a mellow, romantic mood.
Surrounded by tropical plants for privacy, it was an INCREDIBLE place to watch the sunset, and a welcome chance to relax and rejuvenate before we began the next stage of our journey.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Romantic Getaways in NC (Cabins, Inns & Resorts)
9. Hike to 3 Deep Creek Waterfalls
We’d been told about the beauty of the Deep Creek section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by our buddy (and longtime BRMTG contributor) Jonathon Engels.
But to understand just how gorgeous the relatively easy hiking trails to 3 spectacular Deep Creek waterfalls are, you really do have to see it for yourself.
The entire loop is just over 2 miles: Juney Whank Falls is both the smallest waterfall and the shortest hike (just over 0.2 miles). The tall, skinny Tom Branch Falls and the robust Indian Creek Falls are on the same 1.6-mile round-trip trail.
Hike the trail in spring to see tons of wildflowers along the way: We also saw lots of butterflies and North Carolina birds in the forest.
But if you’re visiting on a weekend, or when peak fall colors are popping, we strongly advise getting there early if you want to beat the crowds.
10. Learn History at the Swain County Heritage Museum
The Swain County Heritage Museum is located inside one of the oldest historic buildings in Bryson City, a courthouse (the town’s third) built in 1908.
With its gleaming white exterior and gold-domed clocktower, it’s a powerful presence on the landscape of downtown Bryson City.
But what’s inside the building is arguably even more fascinating for those who love Appalachian history.
The museum features an in-depth look at Bryson City history, including an interactive children’s activity area, a video room showing a 15-minute film about Swain County, and lots of historic photos, tools, and memorabilia.
The highlights are exhibits on a one-room schoolhouse, a restored log cabin, some gorgeous traditional quilts, and a room showcasing photos of the North Shore of Fontana Lake.
The two-floor building is also home to the Swain County Visitor Center and the Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore, which take up a good bit of the first floor.
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11. Marvel at the View of Newfound Gap
Located at an elevation of 5,048 feet in the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Newfound Gap offers excellent overviews of the breathtakingly beautiful mountain pass.
It gained fame in 1872, when it was discovered to be the lowest, most accessible pass through the Great Smokies.
Before that, the arduous Indian Gap Road was believed to be the easiest route through the mountains.
The attraction is situated along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina: There’s even a spot in the parking area where you can have a photo taken with one foot in each state!
You can also see the Rockefeller Memorial, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the National Park on September 2, 1940.
The Appalachian Trail passes right through the popular tourist attraction, and there are several other short hiking trails that depart from the parking area.
READ MORE: 30 Fascinating Facts About the Appalachian Mountains
12. Picnic by the Tuckasegee River
Commonly known as “the Tuck,” Tuckasegee River flows 60 miles from the headwaters near Cashiers and runs through the towns of Sylva, Dillsboro, and Bryson City on its way to Fontana Lake.
The river’s name is thought to derive from an anglicization of the Cherokee word daksiyi—takhšiyi, which means “Turtle Place.”
When the water levels are low, you may still spot stone fishing weirs built by early indigenous people.
There are lots of ways to experience the river, which is considered great for fly fishing, canoeing/kayaking, and river tubing .
But our favorite way was to pick up a meal from one of the many fantastic Bryson City restaurants (especially the food trucks outside Bryson City Outdoors and Mountain Layers Brewing company) and have a picnic by the river.
There are two great spots we found, including the Bryson City Island Park and the covered picnic pavilion behind the Swain County Heritage Center.
Just make sure to pack out any trash you take in, as there’s lots of wildlife in the area.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Downtown Asheville Restaurants for Foodies
13. Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
To say that the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is a “must-do” when you visit Bryson City NC would be an understatement.
The train began operations in 1988, but it currently runs a 53-mile section of the Murphy Branch between Dillsboro and Andrews that was completed by the Southern Railway company between 1883 and 1890.
Their roster of trains date back to 1904, with most dating to the mid-20th century.
So it’s a retro flashback to ride the railroad through some of the most picturesque parts of the Great Smoky Mountains, alongside Lake Fontana and the Nantahala River.
Packed lunches are available along the way, and there’s also a food car with coffee, snacks, craft beer, and more.
It was by far our favorite experience during our time exploring the area. We especially enjoyed getting a chance to ride their Polar Express train last Christmas!
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in North Carolina
14. Sample Bryson City Restaurants
For a small mountain town with around 1700 residents, Bryson City has an insane amount of great restaurants.
From fine dining and cozy cafes to innovative food trucks, we found a wealth of tasty options to choose from.
So many, in fact, that we couldn’t visit all of the highly rated ones despite eating out constantly for 5 days!
For breakfast and lunch, our favorites were La Dolce Vita Bakery (where they roast their own coffee beans), the High Test Deli, and the Everett Street Diner (try the Brunch Burger!).
For romantic, upscale dinners try the Everett Hotel Bistro and the Fryemont Inn (which also has a full bar and an excellent patio for watching the sunset).
And you definitely don’t want to miss The Rice Wagon (pan-Asian) and Sandra D’s Fried Pies!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Restaurants in Boone NC
15. See the Sights from Clingmans Dome
The second tallest mountain east of the Mississippi (after Mount Mitchell) and the highest point along the Appalachian Trail, Clingmans Dome towers over the landscape at a staggering 6,643 feet.
Known to the Cherokee people as Kuwahi or ᎫᏩᎯ (“mulberry place”), it’s one of the most popular attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The wide, paved hiking trail up to the observation tower at the top may only be a 1/2-mile, but note that it is fairly steep and moderately difficult due to the incline. Take your time, and take plenty of water!
The 45-foot concrete observation tower atop Clingmans Dome was built in 1959, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The tower’s circular observation platform can be accessed by walking up a spiral ramp, which rewards visitors with a jaw-dropping 360º panorama that includes Fontana Lake and several other 6,000-foot summits.
READ MORE: The Best Hiking in Asheville NC Bucket List (Top 25 Hiking Trails)
16. See the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum
Located behind the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in the heart of downtown, the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum is one of the most family-friendly Bryson City attractions.
It’s a must-see for anyone who loves trains and/or railroad history, with an incredible collection of 7,000 Lionel Train engines, cars, and accessories, plus a fun children’s activity center.
Kids will love the impressive operating layout, with numerous trains running through elaborate dioramas evoking classic North Carolina Mountain towns and scenery.
There’s also an expansive gift shop featuring an array of fun toys, t-shirts, railroad memorabilia, and other Bryson City souvenirs.
Best of all, entry to the museum is free with the purchase of a GSMR ticket. If you’re not riding the train, admission costs $9 for ages 12 and up, $5 for children ages 3-11, and kids under age 3 get in free.
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17. Shop at Uncle Bunky’s Christmas Cottage
If you couldn’t guess from our frequent mentions of the holiday, we are big-time Christmas fanatics.
Located right outside the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum, Uncle Bunky’s Christmas Cottage offers an exceptional array of Christmas decorations, clothing, and more.
An offshoot of the ever-popular Uncle Bunky’s T-Shirt Shop (which is located right around the corner), the Christmas Cottage was recently closed briefly for renovations.
But they’re generally open all year round, and feature cool Christmas collectibles we haven’t seen anywhere else in North Carolina (including retro-style advent calendars, ornaments, and artwork).
Although places like Loose Moose and McClanahan’s Collectibles also have cool Christmas stuff, the size and scope of Uncle Bunky’s stock made it our favorite shop for Christmas in Bryson City.
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
18. Spend a Day at Fontana Lake
Located near Bryson City, Fontana Lake is the largest lake in Western North Carolina and forms the southern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Established in the 1940s, the 10,000-acre reservoir was formed by the damming of the Little Tennessee River. At 480 feet tall, the Fontana Dam is the highest east of the Rockies.
Fontana Lake is home to around 400 floating cabins (some of which are you can rent), as well as the remote Fontana Village Resort.
Boats are an important commodity, as many parts of the massive lake are inaccessible without them.
Swimming is another popular pastime here, and the hiking trails are great, too. The Appalachian Trail crosses over the Fontana Dam, and there’s also a 35-mile Lakeshore Trail that leads to the Road to Nowhere.
Thanks to virtually no commercial development in the area, we think Fontana is one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire Blue Ridge Mountain region!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Lakes in the North Carolina Mountains to Visit
19. Visit the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium
The Appalachian Rivers Aquarium isn’t a major tourist attraction in Bryson City, but it is one of the coolest things to do in the small mountain town.
The building is tucked back on a side street downtown, right across from the Tuckasegee River and Bryson City Island Park (which is another great spot for a picnic).
The Appalachian aquarium is a great place to learn all about the fish, salamanders, and other marine life that call the area home, many of which you can see up close.
Our favorite species were the massive Hellbender Salamanders (which can grow 12 to 19 inches long!) and beautifully patterned Tiger Trout (which are popular with fish-stocking programs because they eat undesirable fish).
READ MORE: 20 Awesome Things to Do for Winter in North Carolina
20. Visit the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians
Though we’re relative newcomers, we’ve had the pleasure of trying our hands at fly fishing in rivers from Georgia and North Carolina to Alaska and Norway.
Bryson City’s Fly Fishing Museum of the Appalachians is a great place to learn more about the sport, with numerous exhibits about the history of fly fishing in the Southeast.
There are exhibits and videos about the evolution of rods and reels, basic knots, fly-tying, regional fishing waters, and the the myriad types of gear and gamefish.
I loved learning more about legendary “Stream Blazers” and Southern Fly Fishing Hall of Fame Legends like Alen Baker (who created the museum), conservationist Phil H. Bracewell Sr., and former Wildlife In NC editor Jim Dean.
We also loved the museum’s rustic interior, which uses repurposed wood from a tobacco barn near Elkin NC to make the exhibit cases, benches, and other furnishings. –by Bret Love; all photos by Bret Love and Mary Gabbett unless otherwise noted
