Brasstown NC lies on the far western tip of the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains on the border of Cherokee and Clay Counties between Murphy and Hayesville North Carolina. About 15 minutes to the South lie the Northwest Georgia towns of Blairsville and Blue Ridge. This NC mountain land is composed of fertile valleys, high mountain ranges and clear rushing streams defined by the Unicoi and Snowbird Mountains to the North, the Cheoah Mountains to the East, the Valley River Mountains to the Northeast, and the Blue Ridge Mountain land to the South including North Georgia's memorable Brasstown Bald. With some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States, Western North Carolina's section of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers inspiring views and endless outdoor activities. Begin with America's most visited National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, add two National Forests, Nantahala and Pisgah, and you will find everything from climbing to hiking to rafting to mountain biking. If you are seeking something more leisurely, the Western North Carolina Mountains boast the incomparable NC Blue Ridge Parkway which winds through 250 breathtaking miles of North Carolina Mountain vistas. But even the length of the Parkway doesn't cover the full extent of NC's Blue Ridge Mountain experience. In the Western corner of NC in Cherokee and Clay counties, gem mines & water falls make for fun filled day adventures. Cherokee county consists of over 100,000 acres of national forest and the Ocoee River to the west has world class rafting and kayaking and was the site of competitions in the 1996 Olympic Games. Lake Hiwassee boasts first class fishing and boating and is one of the most pristine and natural lakes in the Western North Carolina Mountains as it is almost entirely surrounded by Forest Service lands.
The Unicoi and Snowbird Mountains define the region with their towering presence. This mountainous land is the back door to the Blue Ridge Smoky Mountains including a very old trade route used by the Cherokee Indians. For centuries, native americans used a footpath in the Western North Carolina Mountains to travel through the Appalachian range passing through Murphy NC. The route stretched across the width of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains from South Carolina to the Tennessee Valley and dipped down to the mountain lands of Northwest Georgia. The Unicoi Mountains of NC stretch between the Little Tennessee River and the Hiwassee River. Most of the mountain range is protected as national forest including the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests on the Western North Carolina border with Tennessee. The Unicoi Blue Ridge Mountains remain one of the less developed areas in the Eastern United States. The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is home to one of the last remaining old growth cove hardwood forests in Western North Carolina and the entire United States. The oldest trees in the forest are over 400 years old. The name "Unicoi" comes from the Cherokee word "Unega" which means white. It refers to the low lying clouds and fog that often drape the Southern Appalachian Mountains in the morning.
Blake (unauthenticated)
May 12, 2009 11:05 PM
Friday May 8th I attended a meeting/fundraiser for the HRWC Hiwasse River Watershed Coalition HRWC is a volunteer organization which actively promotes watershed conservation best practices. There was a good turnout & it was very informative.
blake (unauthenticated)
May 17, 2009 4:25 PM
Murphy's Lake Hiwassee is almost up to normal levels after the heavy rains this spring. The boating & fishing iare going to be exceptional this year. The Ocoee rafting companies are preparing for a strong summer season.
blake (unauthenticated)
Jun 6, 2009 6:35 PM
My friend Jim Watson came up to Overlook Brasstown & got a chance to ride the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway. He absolutely loved the natural beauty of the Parkway & the Western North Carolina Mountains. Next time he said he will bring his motorcycle and ride the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap.
Blake
blake (unauthenticated)
Aug 25, 2009 11:40 PM
The catfish in the Overlook Martins Creek pond are growing rapidly. The mountain air must agree with them. They usually spend their time lazing about under the shade of the willow tree. The Blue Ridge Mountains have their characteristic blue look every morning as the mist recedes over the ridges. The land is very green and beautiful because of all the summer rains.