Surrounded by mountain streams, creeks, and rivers, Maggie Valley provides beautiful spots to relax from the summer heat in natural swimming holes. Because mountain rivers can rise suddenly due to flash flooding, swimming in mountain rivers can be dangerous. Do try these recommended spots to safely enjoy the mountain waters. Remember that most of these swimming spots do not have lifeguards on duty. Keep a close eye on the kids. Bring or wear your swim clothes which are required.

1. Graveyard Fields
Graveyard Fields Trail, an easy 3.2 mile hike, ends at the base of a waterfall. In the parking lot you will find a map of the trail system. If you take the Second Falls hike which is only .3 of a mile, you end on a large observation deck. From the deck you can view the falls from below. Here there are swimming areas where you can wade into cool mountain pools of water.

Directions:
Take US Highway 276 to the junction with the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Graveyard Fields Overlook at milepost 418.8 where the trail begins.

2. Oconaluftee Islands Park
You can end your walk around Oconaluftee Islands Park on Tsali Blvd in Cherokee by wading into the river. As the Oconaluftee flows through Cherokee, it creates two small islands that are accessible by footbridges. The islands are surrounded by great shade trees, picnic tables, benches, barbecue grills and pavilions. Bring your swimsuit and plan to make a day of it.

Directions:
From Maggie, take 19 into Cherokee. Make a right onto US 441N/Tsali Blvd. About a 17 mile ride.

3. Sliding Rock
Water Parks have nothing on Sliding Rock, a natural rock formation spewing 11,000 gallons of water per minute. The water jets down a 60 foot rock formation and ends in six feet of cool, clear water. For school age children who like to swim and adults who are kids at heart, this is a thrill a minute natural slide. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer months.

Directions:
Take US Highway 276 S. Turn right at US-276 S/US-64 W. Sliding Rock will be on your right.

Kevin Adams through his book North Carolina’s Best Wildflower Hikes (Westcliffe Publishers) guided us to the Oconaluftee wildflower hike in April of 2008. Running along the Oconluftee River, the easy hike provided the relaxing sounds of the river along with the beauty of the mountainous landscape in the distance. The markers along the trail supplied interesting Cherokee folklore with mystic illustrations.

Wildflowers can be elusive
For us, the wildflower hike proved a little like a scavenger hunt because many of these little gems are found low to the ground. Once your eyes become accustomed to searching along the trails and in among the rocks, tree trunks and decaying debris, the walk takes on a contemplative pace.

Photograph first; identify later
We found that it was best to photograph the wildflowers with your digital camera and to work on identification after returning to the cabin. Traveling with a laptop made this project doable and allowed us to relive the pleasures of the hike. A few of the flowers we photographed and identified were white trilliums, blue phlox, yellow violets, and squawroot.

Where to look
Numerous websites provide photos to help you with your identification.

Check out Smokies Guide for an alphabetical listing and accompanying photos for more commonly found flowers.
Go to Wikipedia for an overview of the Smokies and additional photos.