Plan your stay · Whittier, North Carolina
Stay tucked away, explore Western North Carolina
There’s a lot waiting just down the road. The Lodge at Smoky Cove sits on a quiet ridge in Whittier, between Cherokee, Bryson City, Dillsboro and Sylva, and about 25 minutes from the North Carolina entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Spend each day somewhere different, then come back up the hill for the evening.
From the lodge
The towns, the park and the river, all within 40 minutes
The lodge is a paved mile up from US-74, the main road through the valley, so most days start with an easy drive in one direction or the other.
- 12 minDillsboroShops and the river · 7 mi
- 15 minSylvaDinner and Main Street · 9 mi
- 15 minCherokeeCulture, Mingo Falls, Harrah’s · 10 mi
- 20 minBryson CityThe railroad and Deep Creek · 13 mi
- 25 minThe SmokiesOconaluftee entrance and elk · 14 mi
- 30 minNantahala GorgeWhitewater and zip lines · 24 mi
- 35 minWaynesvilleMain Street and galleries · 26 mi
- 40 minMaggie ValleySkiing and Wheels Through Time · 25 mi
Typical drive times in normal traffic, checked September 2026. October weekends, summer afternoons in Cherokee and winter weather on the high roads add time. Drive times to 14 more places
Ideas
What are you in the mood for?
With the kidsTrains, gems and cold water to splash in
- The Great Smoky Mountains RailroadOpen-air cars out of Bryson City, and The Polar Express from November.
- Gem miningEveryone goes home with something from the flume.
- A first raft trip on the TuckGentle riffles, rafts from age 4, three miles from the lodge.
- Deep CreekThree waterfalls on an easy loop, and tubes on hot afternoons.
- Santa’s LandA Christmas-themed ride park and petting zoo for younger kids, mid-May to November 1.
Out on the waterWhitewater, gentle water and a very big lake
- The NantahalaEight miles of Class II–III whitewater, ending at Nantahala Falls.
- The TuckasegeeCalmer water close to the lodge, good for a mixed-age group.
- Zip lines over the gorgeNOC and Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours, with small courses for younger kids.
- Fontana LakeRent a pontoon and find a cove bordered by national park.
- Trout waterThe Tuck at Dillsboro and Cherokee’s tribal waters.
Into the SmokiesElk, waterfalls and the long views
- Oconaluftee at duskElk often graze the fields by the visitor center. No promises.
- Newfound Gap RoadThe drive over the crest to the state line at 5,046 feet.
- Mingo FallsOne of the tallest waterfalls in the southern Appalachians, 161 steps up.
- Kephart ProngFour miles round trip along a stream to an old CCC camp.
- KuwohiThe park’s summit tower, April through November.
Take it easySmall towns, good food, slow drives
- DillsboroA craft co-op, glassblowers and a riverside lunch, 12 minutes away.
- Sylva for dinnerForagers Canteen or Lulu’s on Main, then a walk up the courthouse steps.
- Waynesville’s Main StreetGalleries, the Mast General Store and a long lunch.
- The Road to NowhereA quiet drive above Fontana Lake to a tunnel you walk through.
- Waterrock Knob at sunsetThe Blue Ridge Parkway at 6,000 feet, 45 minutes away.
Rainy dayWhen the clouds settle in
- Museum of the Cherokee PeopleAbout an hour inside, open all year.
- Qualla Arts and Crafts MutualBaskets, pottery and carving by enrolled Cherokee artists.
- Gold City Gem MineA covered flume and a heated indoor one for cold, wet days.
- Wheels Through TimeRare American motorcycles and cars in Maggie Valley.
- City Lights Bookstore and a taproomSylva’s best wet afternoon, 15 minutes away.
Winter dayA ski day, a train ride, a fire at night
- Cataloochee Ski AreaEighteen slopes above Maggie Valley, about 45 minutes away.
- Tube WorldSnow tubing in Maggie Valley, run by Cataloochee.
- The Polar ExpressFrom the Bryson City depot, November into early January.
- Dillsboro Lights & LuminariesThousands of candles along Front Street on December weekends.
- Dinner in WaynesvilleThen the long, quiet drive home to the Great Room fire.
Where to go
Cherokee, Bryson City, Dillsboro and Sylva are all within twenty minutes, and the national park is just past Cherokee. Here is what each is like and who it suits.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The park’s North Carolina front door
Oconaluftee, the park’s main North Carolina entrance, is 14 miles from the lodge, just past Cherokee. Most visitors to the Smokies come in through Tennessee, so this side is quieter, and the elk fields, waterfalls and the drive over the crest are all close.
Easy outings
- Oconaluftee and the Mountain Farm Museum
- Log farm buildings from the late 1800s beside the visitor center, and the flat Oconaluftee River Trail, one of only two trails in the park where dogs are allowed.
- Elk at dawn and dusk
- Elk are often in the fields near the visitor center early and late in the day. They are wild, so there are no guarantees. The Park Service requires you to stay at least 25 yards away, and during the fall rut the fields close and you watch from the roadside.
- Deep Creek waterfalls
- A 2.4-mile loop past Juney Whank, Tom Branch and Indian Creek falls, outside Bryson City. The walk to Indian Creek Falls alone is 1.6 miles round trip on a wide path.
Bigger days
3 ideas: Newfound Gap, Kuwohi, longer hikes
- Newfound Gap Road
- US-441 climbs over the crest to Newfound Gap at 5,046 feet, where the Appalachian Trail crosses the state line. About 45 minutes from the lodge, and much cooler at the top.
- Kuwohi
- Formerly Clingmans Dome, the park’s highest point at 6,643 feet: a steep half-mile paved path to the tower, or 3.6 miles round trip to Andrews Bald. The road is open April 1 to late November.
- Kephart Prong and Charlies Bunion
- Kephart Prong is 4 miles round trip beside a stream to an old CCC camp. Charlies Bunion is 8 miles round trip on the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap, with exposed cliffs at the end.
Good to know. There’s no entrance fee, but parking for more than 15 minutes needs a Park It Forward tag: $5 a day or $15 a week in 2026. Mingo Falls, Soco Falls and everything in Cherokee are outside the park and need no tag. Parking tags at nps.gov (opens in a new tab)
Cherokee · 10 miles
Cherokee, and why it deserves more than an evening
Cherokee is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, on the Qualla Boundary at the edge of the national park. Most people know it for the casino. Give it a morning for the museum and the craft co-op, then an afternoon on the river or at Mingo Falls.
History and culture
- Museum of the Cherokee People (opens in a new tab)
- Formerly the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Thousands of years of Cherokee history; allow about an hour. Open all year.
- Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual (opens in a new tab)
- Founded in 1946, across the road from the museum: baskets, pottery, carving and beadwork by enrolled members.
- Oconaluftee Indian Village (opens in a new tab)
- An 18th-century Cherokee town brought to life by guides and craftspeople. Late April through October, closed Sundays.
- Unto These Hills
- The outdoor drama at Mountainside Theatre, on summer evenings from late May to late August.
Outdoors
4 ideas: Mingo Falls, Islands Park, trails, fishing
- Mingo Falls
- More than 120 feet of falling water at the end of a short trail with 161 steps. On tribal land, so no park tag is needed.
- Oconaluftee Islands Park
- A free river island in town with footbridges, picnic tables and shallow water for wading in summer.
- Fire Mountain Trails
- Eleven miles of free mountain-bike and hiking trails above the Indian Village.
- Fishing
- Cherokee stocks miles of the Oconaluftee and Raven Fork. A tribal permit is required; a state license isn’t valid here.
Evenings and events
4 ideas: Harrah’s, the fair, winter lights, golf
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
- Headline concerts at the Event Center, restaurants and a spa. No one under 21 is allowed anywhere in the casino building.
- The Cherokee Indian Fair
- Early October: dance, crafts, food and carnival rides. October 6–11 in 2026.
- Enchanted Island of Lights
- Lights and synthetic-ice skating on Oconaluftee Islands Park, typically late November into early January.
- Sequoyah National Golf Club
- A tribe-owned Robert Trent Jones II course in Whittier, six miles from the lodge.
Bryson City · 13 miles
Bryson City: the train, the creek and the lake
Twenty minutes west, Bryson City is a railroad town on the Tuckasegee River with the national park at the end of the road. It’s easy to fill a day here.
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (opens in a new tab)
- The Nantahala Gorge excursion runs about four and a half hours with an hour at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, April through October. Steam on select dates.
- The Polar Express (opens in a new tab)
- From the Bryson City depot, November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027. It sells out, so book the train before the rooms.
4 more: Deep Creek, the Road to Nowhere, the heritage museum, downtown
- Deep Creek
- Three waterfalls on a 2.4-mile loop inside the park, two miles from downtown. Tubes for rent on the road in, in summer.
- The Road to Nowhere
- Lakeview Drive climbs above Fontana Lake and ends at a 1,200-foot tunnel you walk through. Bring a flashlight.
- Swain County Heritage Museum
- Free, in the 1908 courthouse downtown. A good 30 minutes before the train.
- Downtown
- Mountain Layers Brewing has a rooftop; Bryson City Brewing is in the old bottling plant by the depot; the Fryemont Inn, open since 1923, has a dining room and bar.
Dillsboro & Sylva · 7 and 9 miles
Dillsboro and Sylva, the closest towns
Closer than anything else on this page, and easy to fit around a slow morning. Dillsboro is best by day, Sylva after dark.
Dillsboro, by day
A one-street railroad town on the Tuckasegee River with a dozen shops and a river you can raft.
What to do in Dillsboro
- Dogwood Crafters
- A mountain craft co-op of more than 100 artisans, open since 1976.
- Jackson County Green Energy Park
- Glassblowing and forge studios fired by methane from the old landfill. Drop in Wednesday to Friday.
- Lunch
- Haywood Smokehouse for barbecue, Boots Steakhouse on Front Street, or Innovation Station in the old depot.
- On the river
- Raft or tube the Tuck from town in summer and early fall.
- Events
- ColorFest on October 3, 2026, and Lights & Luminaries on December 4–5 and 11–12.
Sylva, by evening
The county seat, with a white-domed courthouse at the top of 107 steps and Main Street below it.
What to do in Sylva
- City Lights Bookstore
- An independent bookshop since 1985, strong on Appalachian writing.
- Foragers Canteen (opens in a new tab)
- Farm-to-table Southern cooking by the creek at 5 Grindstaff Cove Rd: lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, closed Tuesdays.
- Breweries and dinner
- Innovation Brewing on the creek, Balsam Falls and Lazy Hiker, all walkable; Lulu’s on Main is a long-time local favorite.
- Summer Fridays
- Free Concerts on the Creek at Bridge Park, Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Events
- Greening Up the Mountains in late April, and the courthouse tree lighting on December 4, 2026.
Maggie Valley & Waynesville · about 40 minutes
Maggie Valley and Waynesville, worth the drive east
A full day out rather than a quick trip. Take US-19 through Cherokee to Maggie Valley, then come home on US-74 through Waynesville: about an hour and a half of driving in all, with plenty to stop for.
Maggie Valley
5 ideas: skiing, snow tubing, Wheels Through Time, Soco Falls, Cataloochee Valley
- Cataloochee Ski Area (opens in a new tab)
- North Carolina’s first ski area (1961): 18 slopes, snowmaking on all of them, and night skiing in peak season. It typically runs from November into March. Lessons for skiers and snowboarders from age 3.
- Tube World (opens in a new tab)
- Snow tubing in Maggie Valley, run by Cataloochee. Riders must be 42 inches tall; smaller kids get a snow-play area.
- Wheels Through Time (opens in a new tab)
- A museum of rare American motorcycles and cars, a good rainy-day stop. Open Thursday to Monday in season; check before a winter visit.
- Soco Falls
- A twin waterfall on US-19 on the way, with a new accessible viewing deck at the top.
- Cataloochee Valley
- Elk and historic farm buildings at the end of a narrow gravel road, about 1 hour 40 minutes from the lodge. Best at dawn or dusk in spring and fall; not a winter drive.
Waynesville
Main Street, food and beer, October and December events
- Main Street (opens in a new tab)
- Galleries including Twigs & Leaves and Haywood Handmade, the Mast General Store and Blue Ridge Books.
- Food and beer
- The Sweet Onion for Southern cooking; Boojum Brewing on Main Street and Frog Level Brewing by the creek.
- October
- The Church Street Art & Craft Show on October 10, 2026 and the Apple Harvest Festival on October 17.
- December
- The Christmas parade on December 7, 2026 and A Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration on December 12.
Summer on the water
Whitewater, gentle water and a very big lake
Summer here revolves around the rivers. Which one suits you depends on who’s in the boat.
A first raft trip
The Tuckasegee
3 miles from the lodge
- Water
- Class I–II riffles
- Ages
- Rafts and double inflatable kayaks from age 4 (40 lb)
- Season
- Mid-May to Labor Day; Dillsboro trips into October
Warmer, calmer water on the lodge’s own river. Tuckaseegee Outfitters, in Whittier, and the Dillsboro River Company run guided and self-guided trips. Tubing here is for older kids and teens.
Tuckaseegee Outfitters (opens in a new tab) Dillsboro River Company (opens in a new tab)
Real whitewater
The Nantahala
30 minutes from the lodge
- Water
- 8 miles of Class II–III, ending at Nantahala Falls
- Ages
- 7 and up, or 60 lb (a Forest Service rule)
- Season
- Roughly spring through October
Dam-released, so it runs all summer, and around 50°F even in July. Guided rafts or your own inflatable kayak, about three hours on the water. Watch the falls from the riverside path at NOC afterward.
Nantahala Outdoor Center (opens in a new tab) Wildwater (opens in a new tab) Rolling Thunder (opens in a new tab)
A lazy summer afternoon
Deep Creek
25 minutes from the lodge
- Water
- A mountain creek, lower section only
- Ages
- Outfitters ask that children wear life jackets
- Season
- Roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Outfitters on the road into the park rent tubes by the day. Tubing isn’t allowed above the Indian Creek trail junction, and the Park Service advises caution: the creek rises fast after rain.
A day on a boat
Fontana Lake
35 minutes from the lodge
- Water
- 10,230 acres, mostly bordered by the park and national forest
- Boats
- Pontoon rentals at marinas west of Bryson City
- Season
- Best May to September
Rent a pontoon for the day and find a quiet cove. The lake is drawn down in fall and winter, which is when the Road to Nowhere is the better way to see it.
Zip lines, harder rivers and trout fishing
- Zip lines
- NOC and Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours run zip lines above the gorge. The smaller KidZip courses take ages 4 to 12.
- For thrill-seekers
- The Ocoee in Tennessee (home of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events, age 12 and up) and the Upper Pigeon are harder water and a long day out, 1½ to 2 hours each way.
- Fishing
- The Tuck at Dillsboro is delayed-harvest trout water, and Cherokee stocks its own rivers. In fall 2026 the state has pushed its stocking back to November. Our fly-fishing guide
Families
Plenty for kids, most of it within half an hour
Enough for several days with children: a Christmas-themed ride park, a real train, buckets of gems, gentle river trips and waterfalls small legs can reach.
Best for ages 1 to 12 · mid-May to November 1
Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo
A Christmas-themed park that has been entertaining families in Cherokee for 60 years: small rides, a little train, paddle boats, a petting zoo and Santa’s house. Old-fashioned and unhurried, and just right for younger children.
US-19 east of Cherokee, 35 min. Open 10 to 5, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays; $30 plus tax, under 2 free (2026). No December opening.
Hours and tickets for Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo (opens in a new tab)
All ages · most of the year
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Open-air cars through the Nantahala Gorge with an hour by the river, and The Polar Express from November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
From the Bryson City depot, 20 min. The Polar Express sells out, so book it first.
Trains and dates for The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (opens in a new tab)
All ages · rain or shine
Gem mining
Pour a bucket into a screen, wash it in the flume and see what sparkles. Everyone finds something, and good stones can be cut and set.
Gold City Gem Mine, 25 min, has a covered flume and a heated indoor one. Mason Mountain Mine near Franklin, about 45 min, digs real Cowee Valley dirt from March to October.
On the water
Tuck rafting, Deep Creek tubing, wading in Cherokee
- Rafting the Tuck Gentle Class I–II water from age 4 (40 lb), 3 miles from the lodge. Summer.
- Nantahala whitewater The bigger river, for kids 7 and up (or 60 lb).
- Deep Creek tubing Summer tubes on the lower creek; outfitters ask children to wear life jackets.
- Oconaluftee Islands Park Free, shallow river to wade in downtown Cherokee.
Easy waterfalls and walks
Deep Creek, Soco Falls, the Oconaluftee River Trail
- Deep Creek’s three waterfalls A 2.4-mile loop; Indian Creek Falls alone is 1.6 miles round trip.
- Soco Falls An accessible viewing deck a short walk from the car.
- Oconaluftee River Trail Flat and wide, about 3 miles round trip; strollers and dogs welcome.
Animals and history
Elk, the farm museum, Cherokee culture
- Elk at Oconaluftee Often in the fields by the visitor center at dawn and dusk. No guarantees.
- Mountain Farm Museum Log barns, a blacksmith shop and a garden.
- Museum of the Cherokee People About an hour inside, open all year. Good for a rainy day.
- Oconaluftee Indian Village A Cherokee town of the 1760s with craft demonstrations and dance, late April to October.
In winter
The Polar Express, snow tubing, lights
- The Polar Express November into early January from Bryson City.
- Tube World Snow tubing in Maggie Valley for riders 42 inches and up.
- Enchanted Island of Lights Lights and skating in Cherokee, typically late November to early January.
When to come
A different trip in every season
Spring March to May
Waterfalls run full, wildflowers peak in the park in mid to late April, and the crowds haven’t arrived yet.
- Waterfalls at their fullest: Deep Creek, Mingo and Soco
- Wildflowers on low trails in mid to late April, and the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
- Trout water in Cherokee and on the Tuck
- Rafting season opens on the Nantahala
- Greening Up the Mountains in Sylva, usually the last Saturday in April
Good to know. Kuwohi Road opens April 1, the Oconaluftee Indian Village in late April and Santa’s Land in mid-May.
Summer June to August
The rivers take over: mornings on the water, waterfalls and short hikes before the afternoon storms, long evenings on the patio.
- Family rafting on the Tuck, whitewater on the Nantahala
- Tubing at Deep Creek and a pontoon day on Fontana Lake
- Santa’s Land, gem mining and the gorge train with the kids
- Unto These Hills in Cherokee, late May to late August
- Free Friday concerts on the creek in Sylva
Good to know. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Cherokee and Deep Creek are busiest on weekends.
Fall September to November
Color usually reaches the high ridges first, in early to mid October, and works down to the valleys by late October and early November. It varies every year.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway to Waterrock Knob, and Newfound Gap Road
- The elk rut at Oconaluftee, roughly September and October
- The Cherokee Indian Fair, October 6–11, 2026
- The Nantahala Gorge train out of Bryson City
- Dillsboro ColorFest (October 3) and Waynesville’s October festivals
Good to know. October is the park’s busiest month. Book early, start early, and keep a quieter plan B.
Winter December to February
Quiet roads, clear views through bare trees, and a ski day 45 minutes away. The lodge sits much lower and doesn’t get ski-area snow; Cataloochee’s base is at 4,660 feet, and it makes its own.
- A ski day at Cataloochee above Maggie Valley, typically November into March
- Snow tubing at Tube World, then dinner in Waynesville
- The Polar Express from Bryson City, November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries (December 4–5 and 11–12) and Cherokee’s Island of Lights
- Year-round: the Museum of the Cherokee People and low walks at Oconaluftee
Good to know. Kuwohi Road is closed December to March, and Newfound Gap Road and the Parkway close in snow and ice. Check the park’s road status before a high drive.
Dates are for 2026 where they have been published; others are typical and change year to year. Check the park’s road status (opens in a new tab) before a high-elevation drive.
Make a day of it
Five days that fit together
Not itineraries, just ways the pieces fit. Each one starts and ends at the lodge.
Cherokee and the Smokies
- Elk at Oconaluftee early
- Mountain Farm Museum
- Museum of the Cherokee People and Qualla Arts
- Mingo Falls in the afternoon
- Dinner in Cherokee or at the fire pit
Bryson City and Deep Creek
- Breakfast downtown
- The Deep Creek waterfalls, or tubes in summer
- Lunch on a brewery rooftop
- The train or the Road to Nowhere
A Nantahala day
- Raft the Nantahala
- Lunch by the falls at NOC
- A zip line or a walk up the Appalachian Trail
- Home along US-74, 30 minutes
Maggie Valley and Waynesville
- Soco Falls on US-19
- Cataloochee in winter, Wheels Through Time the rest of the year
- Main Street and dinner in Waynesville
- Home on US-74, 35 minutes
A slow day close to home
- Dillsboro’s shops and glass studios
- A float on the Tuck in summer
- The courthouse steps and City Lights in Sylva
- Dinner in Sylva, 15 minutes back
Drive times to everything else
14 more places: gem mines, waterfalls, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi, Asheville
| Place | Miles | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckaseegee OutfittersFamily rafting on the Tuck, Whittier | 3 | 7 min |
| Harrah’s CherokeeShows, dining, spa (21+ inside the casino building) | 10 | 15 min |
| Museum of the Cherokee PeopleDowntown Cherokee | 11 | 20 min |
| Deep CreekWaterfalls and summer tubing | 15 | 25 min |
| Gold City Gem MineUS-441 toward Franklin | 17 | 25 min |
| Mingo FallsBig Cove Road, Cherokee | 17 | 30 min |
| Santa’s LandUS-19 east of Cherokee | 23 | 35 min |
| Soco FallsUS-19 toward Maggie Valley | 19 | 35 min |
| Waterrock KnobBlue Ridge Parkway sunsets | 26 | 45 min |
| Newfound GapThe state line and the Appalachian Trail | 29 | 45 min |
| Cataloochee Ski AreaAbove Maggie Valley | 27 | 45 min |
| Fontana DamThe tallest dam in the eastern US | 43 | 55 min |
| KuwohiThe park’s highest point (road open April–November) | 36 | 1 hr 15 |
| AshevilleDowntown and Biltmore | 55 | 1 hr 15 |
Farther afield
Bringing a group?
Split up by day and meet at the fire pit at night. Rafters head for the Nantahala, the rest take the train, and everyone is back for dinner in the Great Room. Groups can reserve part of the lodge or all fifteen bedrooms.
Asheville and the Kress Emporium, the Parkway, Fontana Dam, Dry Falls, Judaculla Rock
- Asheville (opens in a new tab)
- About an hour and a quarter. Samuel Kress, who built this lodge, also built the 1928 Kress store at 19 Patton Avenue. It is now the Kress Emporium, with work by more than 100 artists. Biltmore is on the south side of town.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway
- It begins just above Cherokee. Waterrock Knob, at 6,292 feet, is the sunset stop.
- Fontana Dam
- The tallest dam in the eastern US, with the Appalachian Trail across the top. About 55 minutes.
- Highlands and Dry Falls
- Walk behind a 75-foot waterfall on US-64, about an hour south.
- Judaculla Rock
- A soapstone boulder covered in Cherokee petroglyphs near Cullowhee, about 40 minutes. Free; please don’t touch it.
Questions guests ask
Checked September 2026. Lodge policies and FAQ
How far is The Lodge at Smoky Cove from Cherokee, Bryson City and the national park?
The lodge is in Whittier, North Carolina, about 10 miles (15 minutes) from Harrah’s Cherokee, 13 miles (20 minutes) from downtown Bryson City and 14 miles (about 25 minutes) from the Oconaluftee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Dillsboro is 7 miles away and Sylva 9.
Can you see elk near Cherokee, and when?
Often, but never guaranteed. Elk usually graze the fields around the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 14 miles from the lodge, in the first and last hours of daylight. The rut runs roughly September through October. The National Park Service requires visitors to stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) away and closes the fields during the rut.
When is Deep Creek tubing open, and is it OK for kids?
Tube outfitters on the road into Deep Creek typically operate from about Memorial Day to Labor Day, and ask that children wear life jackets. Tubing is allowed only below the Indian Creek trail junction, and the Park Service advises caution because the creek rises quickly after rain. For young children, a raft trip on the Tuckasegee, from age 4, is gentler.
What is there to do with kids near Cherokee?
Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo (mid-May to November 1), the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and The Polar Express, gem mining at Gold City Gem Mine, family rafting on the Tuckasegee from age 4, Deep Creek’s waterfalls and summer tubing, and the Mountain Farm Museum and elk fields at Oconaluftee. Most are within 35 minutes of the lodge.
When do the fall colors peak near Cherokee and Bryson City?
It varies every year. Color typically develops above 4,000 feet in early to mid October, and the lower valleys are usually at their best from mid October into early November. October is the busiest month in the Smokies.
Where is the nearest skiing to Cherokee?
Cataloochee Ski Area above Maggie Valley, 27 miles (about 45 minutes) from the lodge. It typically opens in November and runs into March, with snowmaking on every slope and night skiing in peak season. Tube World, also run by Cataloochee, offers snow tubing in Maggie Valley. The lodge itself sits much lower and doesn’t get ski-area snow.
Do you need a pass for Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
There is no entrance fee. Parking anywhere in the park for more than 15 minutes requires a Park It Forward tag: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year in 2026, sold online and at visitor centers. Cherokee, Mingo Falls and Soco Falls are outside the park and need no tag.
When does The Polar Express run in Bryson City?
In 2026 it runs from November 5 to January 3, 2027, from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in Bryson City, 13 miles from the lodge. The ride is about an hour and a quarter. It sells out, so book early.
What is there to do near Cherokee on a rainy day?
The Museum of the Cherokee People and Qualla Arts and Crafts in Cherokee, the free Swain County Heritage Museum in Bryson City, Gold City Gem Mine’s indoor flume, Wheels Through Time in Maggie Valley, and Sylva’s bookstore and breweries. Or stay in by the fire in the Great Room.
The Lodge at Smoky Cove
Then come back up the hill
However the day went, it ends with a paved mile up to the ridge, the fire pit on the lawn and the hot tub after dark. Rooms from $189 a night, or the whole lodge for a group.
Pick your dates
Book direct, or call and ask us where to go. We’re happy to help plan the days.