Things to Do in the Blue Ridge Mountains – a Mecca for Recreational Pursuits

RESORT AMENITIES | GOLF | ATTRACTIONS & MUSEUMS | SKI | LAKES & RECREATION |

SHOPPING | WINERIES

Foxhunt at Sapphire Valley offers scheduled activities including trips to Nantahala Outdoor Center whitewater rafting, Highlands, N.C., Biltmore Estate mansion in Asheville, magnificent waterfalls and tours to other areas of interest. Paddle around in canoes or hike the perimeter of the big lake at Sapphire. Or, there's also a smaller lake at Foxhunt for fishing from a pier. Cashiers is a quaint town with wonderful restaurants. Highlands, 10 miles away, is also beautiful and has wonderful shopping. Many places to hike and waterfalls to see! Plus the gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the country, is only 90 miles away.

Keep reading for ideas on fun and exciting things to do in Sapphire Valley during your stay with us!

RESORT AMENITIES

The Recreation Center is open seven days a week, year round, with movie rentals, video games, exercise equipment and miniature golf. You will also find two heated outdoor pools, one heated indoor pool, two hot tubs ad two saunas.

For tennis lovers, eight clay and two hard surface Tennis Courts are available during the off-season. Lessons, clinics, tennis packages, tennis equipment and accessories are available during season.

Golf enthusiasts have several courses available to them. The Sapphire National Golf Club is an 18-hole PGA course with rental equipment and cards available. The Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company and Sports Salon are adjacent to the Pro Shop. The Red Bird Golf Links has a driving range and traditional 9-hole course (par 3 and 4 holes). Their fully stocked golf pro shop and professionals are available to assist. Click here for more details about our golf locations.

Skiing is available mid-December through February, weather permitting. Skiiers will enjoy the two slopes as well as the tube park. Lift tickets, equipment rental and ski lessons are available.

Fairfield Lake, a 55-acre lake is complete with boathouse and dock. Fishing boats, canoes and paddle boats are available for rental. The boat dock opens seasonally and a North Carolina fishing license is required. Also located nearby is Hogback Lake a beautiful 35-acre lake for fishing. Horsepasture Riverbank provides access to the river for fishing and splashing as it flows through the Sapphire Valley area.

The Activity Field includes a playground, soccer field, basketball courts and a quarter mile track.
The Community Center posts the activity calendar on all activities that will be offered during your stay. Additional amenities include a park with picnic area. Hiking, fishing, miniature golf and canoeing are other popular activities. A car is needed to access the various amenities at the resort. Enjoy the scenic wonder of the tree-studded mountains, lakes and streams as you golf, boat or hike.

GOLF

Fairfield Sapphire Valley: Sapphire Mountain Golf Club – 8.2 miles
50 Slicers Ave
Sapphire, NC 28774
828.743.1174

High Hampton Inn & Country Club – 3.2 miles
1525 Highway 107 S
Cashiers, NC 28717
828.743.2411

Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club – 3.6 miles
1573 High Mountain Dr
Cashiers, NC 28717
828.743.5195

Wade Hampton Golf Club - 3.0 miles
Highway 107, Cashiers, NC‎
828.743.5465‎

ATTRACTIONS & MUSEUMS

Highlands Museum of American Cut and Engraved Glass – 3 miles

472 Chestnut Street
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-3415

Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum – 27.5 miles
25 Phillips Street
Franklin, NC 28734
828.369.7831

Macon County Historical Museum – 27.9 miles
36 W Main St
Franklin, NC 28734-3006
828.524.9758

Museum of American Cut & Engraving – 22.9 miles
472 Chestnut Street
Highlands, NC 28741
828.526.3415

Ruby City Gems & Minerals – 28 miles
130 E Main St
Franklin, NC 28734
828.524.3967

Santa’s Land Family Theme Park – 28.6 miles
571 Wolfetown Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
828.497.9191

Scottish Tartans Museum Center – 28 miles
86 E Main St
Franklin, NC 28734-3026
828.524.7472

Western Carolina University: Fine Arts Museum – 21.4 miles
176 Central Dr
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828.227.7211

Wilderness Taxidermy and Wildlife Museum – 21.6 miles
5040 Highlands Rd
Franklin, NC 28734
828.524.3677

SKI

Sapphire Valley Ski Area (10 minutes away)

67 Cherokee Trail

Sapphire, NC 28774

The nearby family friendly Sapphire Valley Ski Area consists of a 1600 foot main run with a vertical drop of 200 feet!  It has an innovative quad-lift, a learning slope and a 500 foot tube run.  The Sapphire Valley Ski Area has a ski clothing shop as well as ski clothing rentals.  The perfect spot for both skiing and snowboarding in the Sapphire Valley!

Scaly Mountain Ski Area – 15.9 miles
7420 Dillard Rd
Scaly Mountain, NC 28775
828.526.3737

Scaly Mountain Ski Area is a great place to enjoy skiing, and tubing.  Tubing rates are as follows:

Adults and Children:

• $22.00(tax included) for a 2 hour session
  

Tube World – 28.4 miles
Highway 19
4821 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
828.926.0285

Tube World has large tubes for kids and adults of all ages to ride on. They provide all the equipment you need, (except for coats and gloves) and all the fresh snow you can handle, without having to drive way up the mountain in icy conditions.

Cataloochee Ski Area – 31.6 miles
1080 Ski Lodge Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
828.926.0285

Cataloochee Ski Area is one of the first ski areas to open in North Carolina, and the last to close! They are open in the day and have lighted runs at night, so depending on your schedule; you can have the time to ski or snowboard.

Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing Park – 46.0 miles
5865 Willow Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28739
828.696.0333

LAKES & RECREATION

Lake Fairfield Boat Dock
You can swim, fish or rent a Canoe, PeddleBoat, Kayak or Electric Motor Boat for your sailing pleasure!
Open Sat/Sun/Mon
10 am -5 pm
Weather Permitting
Fishing is available any time of year

WaterFalls
Cashiers, NC and the surrounding area offers an abundance of scenic wonders, including majestic waterfalls nestled in this wooded valley. Here are a few nearby of interest:

• Lower Cullasaja Falls, Upper Cullasaja Falls, Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
• Glen Falls
• Cashiers Sliding Rock, Silver Run Falls and Whitewater Falls
• Whitewater Falls only
• Turtleback Falls and Rainbow Falls
• Sliding Rock, Moore Cove, Looking Glass Falls and Courthouse Falls

Hiking
The surrounding woods in the Blue Ridge Mountain regions offers an array of hiking trails from easy to challenging. Here are just a few:

Yellow Mountain
4.8 mi., 3-5 hr. round trip
Steep ascents and descents to old stone and wood fire tower at 5,127 ft. elevation. Beautiful views and a diversity of plant life.

Directions: From the intersection of N.C. 107 and U.S. 64 in Cashiers, drive west on U.S. 64 in the direction of Highlands. After 7.3 mi. on U.S. 64, turn right on Buck Creek Rd. Go 2.2 mi., passing Chestnut Hill on right. Look for steep path on right with small wooden sign and steps leading to the trail. Park on left in gravel. If you pass Cole Mountain Circle, you've gone too far.

Whiteside Mountain
2 mi. loop.
Easy to moderate hike to 4,940 ft. elev. along the eastern Continental Divide and along spectacular sheer cliffs which are the highest in the eastern U.S.

Directions: From the intersection of N.C. 107 and U.S. 64 in Cashiers, drive west on U.S. 64 in the direction of Highlands. After 4.7 mi. on U.S. 64, turn left on Whiteside Mountain Rd. (SR 1690) at brown "Whiteside Mountain Trail" sign. Continue 1.1 mi., passing Wildcat Cliffs Country Club on right. Turn left into gravel parking lot.

Rock Mountain Trail
0.8 mi., 800 ft. climb to 4,400 ft. elevation.

Chimney Top Trail
1.6 mi. to 4,618 ft. elev.

Lake Trail
1.5 mi. around 35 acre Hampton Lake.
From the intersection of N.C. 107 and U.S. 64 in Cashiers, drive south on N.C. 107. After 1.8 mi., turn left into High Hampton entrance.

Bad Creek
7 mi. round trip.
Strenuous hike through Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area to a tranquil spot on the Chattooga River.

Directions: From the intersection of N.C. 107 and U.S. 64 in Cashiers, drive south on N.C. 107. After 7 mi. on 107, turn right on Bull Pen Rd. (If you pass NC/SC state line, you've gone too far). Continue on Bull Pen Rd. for 2.7 mi. Park on right in gravel area (brown bate) just after the Fowler Creek Bridge. Walk back over and slightly past bridge, trailhead is on opposite side of road from parking area.
Raleigh News and Observer: The Search for the "Rock"

Panthertown Valley
(Multiple use area)
Hiking and mountain biking permitted year around, along with fishing in season. 6,700 acres of high mountain valley, sheer rock, waterfalls, quiet stream and diverse vegetation. Trails, from old logging roads to footpaths, criss-cross the area. Map of trails (recommended) available at the Visitor's Center in Sylva. Plan to take at least a half day to enjoy the valley. If biking, please stay on main trails. Tread lightly on vegetation -- some rare plants are found only here and are slow growers.

Directions: >From the intersection of N.C. 107 and U.S. 64 in Cashiers, drive east on U.S. 64 in the direction of Brevard. After 2 mi., turn left on Cedar Creek Rd., continue for 2.3 mi., turn right on Breedlove Rd. (gravel, blacktop, gravel). Continue for 4 mi. (last 0.2 mi. can be rough) to Valley entrance.

SHOPPING

Brookings Orvis

3 Chestnut Sq

Cashiers, NC 28717

Offer a full line of men's and women's gear for the outdoor sportsman or sportswoman - clothing, boots and shoes, fishing rods, reels and accessories, hunting and shooting supplies, plus all the supplies you need for your "best friend " - your dog. Brookings is owned and staffed by experienced fly fishermen, hunters, outfitters and guides.

www.brookingsonline.com

Highlands Gem Shop
201 S 4th St
Highlands, NC 28741
www.highlandsgemshop.com

Victoria's Closet

29 Marmalade Dr

Cashiers, NC 28717

Since 1991. The Largest Selection of Fine Consignment in the Southeast. Our Ladies Store features Boutique Clothing, Estate Jewelry and Furs.

www.victoriasclosetnc.com

WINERIES

Derrick Mize Ltd – 8.5 miles
440 Main St
Highlands, NC 28741
828.787.1431

Habersham Winery – 60.3 miles
7025 S Main St
Helen, GA 30545-3615
706.878.9463

Tiger Mountain Vineyards – 41.7 miles
2592 Old Highway 441
Tiger, GA 30576
706.782.9256

Victoria Valley Vineyard – 56.9 miles
1360 S Saluda Rd
Cleveland, SC
864.878.5307‎