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.

If you are interested in hitting Harrah’s, the quickest way to Cherokee from Maggie Valley is definitely US 19. But, if you are interested in the cultural side of Cherokee, the Blue Ridge Parkway takes you on a direct route to a wonderful day of exploration.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, Scenic Ride to Cherokee
The Blue Ridge Parkway provides a unique and scenic access to Cherokee from Maggie Valley. Traveling from mile marker 455.7 in Maggie to mile marker 469.1, you will arrive at the southern entrance/exit of the Parkway. With beautiful overlooks along the way, the 30 minute ride to Cherokee is spectacular. As you exit the Parkway, you will arrive at the Oconoluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This stop is worth the ride with a Mountain Farm Museum to explore and a gentle hike along the Oconoluftee River to take.

Museum, Art Galleries, and Live Performances
But, you won’t want to linger too long. Because as you continue along US 441, 2 miles south, you will enter the cultural side of Cherokee.

One of your first stops should be the Native American Craft Shop, as much a gallery of native American art work from around the country as a retail store.

Not far up the road you will encounter the main cultural intersection .

Everyone of these activities is well worth your time.
1. “Unto these Hills: A Retelling” provides a live reenactment of Cherokee history, the second longest running outdoor drama. Summer performances only
2. Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, the oldest and leading Native American Arts Cooperative in the United States, represents a wide variety of artisans. Open year round
3. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian retraces the 11,000 year history of the Cherokee of western North Carolina. Open year round
4. Oconluftee Indian Village recreates the lifestyles of the Cherokee in 1759. May through October

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.