Surrounding Area -[ East Tennessee, Hot Springs North Carolina, The Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mounatins ]- Mountainside Cabins

HOW TO GET HERE:

Follow State Road 209 into Hot Springs. Take a left on 25-70 (there is a BP station on the corner). Go down 25-70 for about 5 miles, look for the Mountainside Cabins sign on your right. Turn right at the sign and head about 1 mile until you see another sign that says "Cabins", it will by near a group of mail boxes. Turn right, and follow the road up to the cabins.

Please Call 828-622-7647 for more personalized directions. Thank you.

Fun Facts about the Surrounding Area:

Mountainside Cabins is located in Madison County, NC.

Madison County's border is located 15 Miles North Of Asheville
on North Carolina/Tennessee Line in the Smoky Mountains.

Named for President James Madison; formed in 1851.

Appalachian trail runs for 65 miles thru Madison County.
More about the Appalachian Trail.

Ranked 53rd in size in North Carolina with 288,000 scenic acres.
78% of it is forested.

Agriculture: largest burley tobacco producing county in North Carolina.

Population of 17,000 people in 1990.
Ranked 81 in population out of 100 N.C. counties.

The Appalachian Trail:

The Appalachian Trail is a public footpath that spans 2,155 miles, from Maine to Georgia. The trail is readily accessible by road, and more than 97% of it is on protected land owned by the Federal or State Government. The trail was formed by many volunteer hiking clubs, in cooperation with the National Park Service in the 1920s and the trail was marked in the 1930s.

The Appalachian Trail in North Carolina: hiking
From Damascus, Va., the trail follows segments of mountain ranges in the Cherokee National Forest to the North Carolina-Tennessee line above the famous Roan Mountain, noted for its rhododendron gardens and far ranging views. From here the Appalachian Trail continues along the two states' boundary and beyond through the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. The trail gives a most rewarding introduction to the majesty of the southern Appalachians. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with 70 crest-line trail miles, is a most primitive section and the highest of the entire route.

The Appalachian Trail from Hot Springs to Max Patch Trail:
A portion of the Appalachian Trail is located near Hot Springs, NC. Parking is available at the Hostel Trailhead and at the Max Patch Trailhead. The trail clibs south from the Hot Springs Hostel up to Bluff Mountain on the N. Carolina / Tennessee border. Enroute to Bluff is the Deer Park Shelter, just 3 miles south of Hot Springs. The trail continues south, crossing a gravel road at Garenflo Gap where a small parking area exists. Approximately 12.5 miles from Hot Springs is the Walnut Mountain Shelter. The Roaring Fork shelter, just 0.3 miles south of Lemon Gap, was built in 1990 to replace the Walnut Mountain Shelter. The trail leads across the Roaring Fork drainage and climbs up to Buckeye Ridge and Max Patch Bald. The grassy ridges and blackberry slopes of Max Patch Bald have been called the "Crown Jewel" of the The Appalchian Trail.

Trailhead Parking:
Parking for trail users is generally available at the various trailheads. Visitors are cautioned about leaving vehicles on remote roads unattended and susceptible to theft. Contact the Appalachian Trail Conference (304-535-6331), the Hot Springs Welcome Center (704-622-7611), or the Forest Service office in Hot Springs (704-622-3202) for more information.