Great Hikes Around Highlands and Cashiers, NC


Our family enjoyed a much-needed break from the Georgia heat this past week.
I am officially ready to move to the mountains - I'll chop wood for a living, if I have to - just give me that mountain air!
Downtown Highlands, NC


Downtown Cashiers, NC

First off - let me note that all of these photos were taken by some other person in blog-world.  My daughter has my camera at camp, so I went to the mountains without a camera.  (Daughter #2's camera is broken.)  I think I "need" a new camera, soon - probably a much nicer one.

Our family enjoys hiking near Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina.  We have a couple of hiking books we use to find new trails each visit.  One of our favorite books is the guide published by The Highland Hiker. 


The Highland Hiker has an outfitter store smack in the middle of both downtown Highlands and Cashiers where you can get your own copy. 

If you are on your first visit to the Highlands area, you HAVE to hike Whiteside Mountain.  Great views.  And I mean Great views. 




Another favorite spot is Sliding Rock, although I always worry I will have a child or husband with a noggin split wide-open. 

You  A crazy person can actually jump into those two holes in the rocks and not touch bottom.   See why I worry?


Another place we enjoy visiting is Panthertown Valley.  Panthertown Valley is a large area northeast of Cashiers with lots and lots of trails - be sure and climb Little Green Mountain in July and eat all of the blueberries you can stand.  Granny Burrell Falls, Wilderness Falls, and Schoolhouse Falls are also great hiking destinations within Panthertown Valley. You definitely need a good map to get around the valley. The updated Highland Hiker Day Hikes guide has a good map or you can download one here.  And don't worry, we did not see a single panther.

Two other short, but interesting hikes are to Pickleseimer Rock House.  (This trail is in the Blue Valley area, on the road from Highlands to Walhalla.) 

and to Sunset Rocks - near downtown Highlands.  Great view of downtown Highlands and the sunset - obviously.  We watched the 4th of July fireworks from here (with no camera).

Both towns have great little shops and beautiful nurseries (garden centers - not babies.)

I created this little hiking map, if you are interested.  Hope it helps. 

We hiked up Jones Knob (part of the Bartram Trail) and actually saw wild pigs.  I guess they enjoy blueberries, too.





Now, back to the sauna that is the rest of the South.



Comments

Olive said…
Trish, we love Highlands. I am unable to hike as I have no cartlidge in my knee but it is lovely there. In fact we honeymooned there six years ago at a small lodge. I also have stayed at that huge place in Cashiers. I always enjoy that winding drive up the mountain and have done it in snow! ~olive
Sjn said…
Looks like fun! It was a nice weekend here too, with a break in the heat and temps in the 80's. But I know what you mean, I'm looking to book another "cool" vacation.
Trish, I have never hiked there, but I sure do love to stay in one of the bed and breakfast inns and shop!! I love the Highlands.
Mary said…
we love that area, as well as Asheville. We have not been there for awhile. Once a year we head to the Snowbird area in NC. It's not too far of a drive from Cashiers. I remember a really neat casual restaurant in Cashiers called The Cornucopia, do you know it??
Anonymous said…
I agree Trish, there is something about the mountain air. We just returned from a motorcycle trip in the mountains in N.C., Tennessee and West Virginia and it was fabulous. I think I could chop wood too:)

xo
LeAnn
nannykim said…
We love hiking in NC too! Sliding rock is one of my kids favorite places. Usually we go hiking in the summer and Fall, but this year we did not go to the mountains in the summer....I do miss it. But Fall is a very nice time for hiking.
Trish what a beautiful place to go hiking. We always go to VA to go to the mountains but we should venture further south and try NC sometime!

Kat :)
Hey Trish, How much Fun,My husband and i say we would love to move to north-south carolina -georgia any of those south states- seem so simple, beautiful, amazing homes, even that town, (mayberry) just love it
And i would love to swim in that water- looks so cool..
Karryann
Dee Stephens said…
I know this post is old but I'm headed there this weekend and this is totally helpful!
From one bloggie to another!
Anonymous said…
Hi Trish,
My name is Jane and I'm with Dwellable.
I was looking for blogs about Cashiers to share on our site and I came across your post...If you're open to it, shoot me an email at jane(at)dwellable(dot)com.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Jane