13 Most Scenic Appalachians Towns
The Appalachian Mountain Range, running from New York and Canada to Georgia and Alabama, covering several US states and Canadian provinces, is possibly the oldest in North America. As such, it has garnered a lot of time to accumulate a massive number of towns, villages, and cities. Some of these places have created their own scenic beauty through a blending of knowledgeable charm and historical character. From Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to Helen, Georgia, these scenic Appalachian towns are well worth the visit.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
The town of Harpers Ferry, located on the eastern side of West Virginia, in Jefferson County near Bolivar, offers a variety of outdoor activities and attractions that give it a quaint yet historic demeanor. From the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and its proximity to the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers to Jefferson Rock, a geological rock formation that offers spectacular views of the mountains in the area and is named after the third US president, who stood there in October of 1783, the wonders of nature abound in and around the town of Harpers Ferry. Yet, there are several activities for the historically influenced visitor as well, like John Brown’s Fort, the Heyward Shepherd Monument, and the John Brown Wax Museum.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Almost at the other end of the Appalachian Mountains, the small town of Blue Ridge is a fabulous gem hidden in gloomy darkness. Relatively close to the border between Georgia and North Carolina, sitting alongside Lake Blue Ridge in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the town of Blue Ridge has a plethora of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. There are several trails available to both the novice and the professional hiker, like Long Creek Falls, Sea Creek Falls, and Jacks River Falls. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad offers a four-hour ride through the Chattahoochee along the Toccoa River. And, if you are still up for more adventure, check out the Appalachian Trail, which has places in the Chattahoochee where you can start.
Bryson City, North Carolina
At the western end of the state of North Carolina, below the Smoky Mountains, in Swain County, Bryson City is a haven for naturalistic endeavors as well as historical wonders. From Deep Creek Loop, Juney Whank Falls Trail, and the Twentymile Loop Trail to checking out Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in all of the Smoky Mountains, adventure in Bryson City never stops. There are even several great opportunities to photograph the greens, reds, yellows, and oranges of the fall foliage while riding along the Sunset Tuckasegee River Train. The ride takes three hours and covers thirty-two miles, offering visitors views of the countryside that cannot be seen any other way.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Across the span of the Great Smoky Mountains from Bryson City, North Carolina, the town of Gatlinburg, in Sevier County, is a great example of a scenic Appalachian town that offers a variety of outdoor activities that keep families coming back for more. Most famous for being a premier access point or gateway to the Smoky Mountain National Park, Gatlinburg also offers a taste of nature in Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, which suspends visitors 140 feet above the valley for a distance of 680 feet along a wooden footbridge. There are even several options for tours in and around Gatlinburg, including the Great Smoky Mountains Tour, the Hidden Cascade Hiking Tour, and the Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg.
Walhalla, South Carolina
Hidden in the far western side of South Carolina, less than twenty miles from the Georgia border, in Oconee County, the town of Walhalla has less than five thousand residents. This does not delay or delude the scenic beauty of this town, though. Besides being well-known for cascading waterfalls and panoramic views, the town of Walhalla is also near several natural attributes, such as Issaqueena Falls, Oconee State Park, and the “Stump House” Tunnel, an unfinished railroad tunnel named after a Cherokee woman and her husband who lived on a house built on stumps. There is even the Blue Hole to check out, a natural spring located relatively close to the tunnel.
Damascus, Virginia
Located in Washington County, just a few miles from the border of Tennessee, Damascus has an excellent grasp of natural beauty and grace. From exploring the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area in the Cherokee National Forest with the family to taking bicycles along the thirty-plus mile Virginia Creeper Trail with friends, the town of Damascus is filled with exciting activities that will astound the senses. There are even several in-town activities, like the Appalachian Trails Days Festival, which occurs every May and offers overnight camping in Tent City, over a hundred vendors, live music and events, and even a parade at two in the afternoon on Saturday.
Petersburg, West Virginia
The town of Petersburg, in Grant County, sits alongside the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and offers visitors a variety of scenic vistas along the banks of Spruce Lake and a chance to check out Fort Mulligan, a Civil War Fort that was built in 1863. Petersburg is also home to the Smoke Hole Caverns, sculpted over thousands of years, and Seneca Rocks, a geological rock formation that rises almost 900 feet above the valley. There are even some fun and exhilarating events in the town of Petersburg, including the Appalachian Heritage Festival, which celebrates the Hispanic heritage, and the Potomac Highlands Guild Fall Harvest Festival & Artisan Market, which provide behavioral health services to those in need.
Mount Airy, North Carolina
The town of Mount Airy, located at the top of the state in Surry County, is home to several outdoor venues and attractions that add scenic charm to its relatively calm, steady demeanor. Other than being the birthplace of Andy Griffith, the home of the Andy Griffith Museum, and the site of Floyd’s City Barber Shop (where Andy got his hair cut on the show), Mount Airy is also known for Riverside Park and Veteran’s Memorial Park. There are also several other attractions in and around Mount Airy, including the Moore William Alfred House, which was built between 1861 and 1863, and Laurel Hill, the birthplace of General J.E.B. Stewart, only ten miles over the border to the northeast.
Clinton, Tennessee
To the northwest of Gatlinburg, in Anderson County, the town of Clinton holds a special place in the hearts of many people. From the Museum of Appalachia and the wealth of knowledge about that part of the Appalachian Mountains to the David Hall Historical Cabin, a museum dedicated to his life, history is alive in Clinton. There are also several opportunities for stopping and smelling the flowers in Clinton, including stopping by Aspire Park, which offers many varied activities available to visitors free of charge, Gibbs Ferry Park, a small park that provides the table and grill to enjoy a picnic with the family, and Little Ponderosa Zoo, which is home to over 130 different animals.
Helen, Georgia
Helen, Georgia, located in White County near Cleveland, best known for its Bavarian fall festival, aptly named Oktoberfest, has a plethora of other activities that encourage its scenic décor. Other than Oktoberfest, there are chances to enter the “Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race.” There are also opportunities for checking out Anna Ruby Falls, named after Anna Ruby Nichols, take an inner tube down the Chattahoochee River, or go across a zip-line with friends or family at nearby Unicoi State Park. Both of these events are in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Unicoi State Park is north to northeast of Helen and offers camping and hiking, not to mention canoeing, WI-FI access, and golf.
Catawba, Virginia
On the edge of Roanoke County and the Jefferson National Forest, running through the Blue Mountains of Virginia, the small town of Catawba is less than ten miles from the edge of the city of Roanoke. This does not take away from the natural scenic beauty of this small Appalachian town, though. Catawba is most famous for its hiking trails, of which there are ten. The view at the top of McAfee Knob, possibly the best of the ten trails, offers vistas of the Catawba Valley, North Mountain, and Tinker Cliffs. Another activity that makes the town of Catawba worthy of a visit is its close proximity to the Jefferson National Forest, which meets in the city of Roanoke.
Boone, North Carolina
The town of Boone, in Watauga County, is called by some “The Gem of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” This is probably due to Boone being immersed in the climate behind the Blue Ridge Mountains through access to the Cascades Trail, the Greenway Trail, and the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, which is located in some of the amenities offered at Daniel Boone Park. There are several other attractions available in Boone as well, including Turtle Island Preserve, dedicated to the learning of the next generation; the Watauga County Farmer’s Marker, providing fresh, locally grown produce; and Foggy Mountain Gem Mine, where you are guaranteed to find a gem every time.
Bluefield, West Virginia
At the bottom of the state, in Mercer County, the town of Bluefield is another great scenic Appalachian town, offering visitors to check out the East River Mountain Overlook, with a spectacular view of the town itself, Michem’s Indoor and Outdoor Flea Market, and Lotito City Park, which offers great picnic amenities, including shelters in case it rained. There are even several other outdoor activities to experience with friends or family around the town of Bluefield, like going white-water rafting or riding ATVs along the New River Gorge or stopping by the Landmark Antique Mall to look for that perfect “hard to find” gift for a friend or family member.
From the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, through Mount Airy, North Carolina, and several other scenic Appalachian towns, and back to the town of Bluefield, West Virginia, the Appalachian Mountains and the towns within them, possess a charm unknown anywhere else. From Jefferson Rock, past the Moore William Alfred House and Turtle Island Preserve, to the New River Gorge in West Virginia, there is adventure and excitement around every corner, and you will want to come back year after year.
