Explore the Nantahala Rainforest with Highland Excursion Tours
By your dapper four-legged host at The Park on Main, Highlands, NC
Well hello there, fellow wanderers and wagging tails!
As the resident Scottish Terrier and concierge extraordinaire of The Park on Main Hotel, I get asked a lot of fetching questions by guests eager to explore our neck of the woods—quite literally! Today, I’m here to lift the mist (and maybe a paw) on one of the most bark-tacular places near Highlands, North Carolina: the Nantahala National Forest.
Let’s sniff out some answers, shall we?
🐾 What is there to do in the Nantahala Forest?
Oh pup, where do I begin? The Nantahala National Forest is practically a playground for both two-legged and four-legged explorers. You can have a howling good time on a Highland Excursion tour and chase your tail in an immersive, nature-based experience.
- Chase waterfalls on their Waterfall Rainforest Tour. Dry Falls and Glen Falls are paw-fect stops for a refreshing photo op.
- Hike the Satulah Mountain Trail, great for getting your paws dirty and your camera roll full.
- Customize a Couples Tour for an open-ended excursion that’ll have you howling with delight.
- Sip and savor beverages in fine glasses on the Wine Tasting Tour—it’s no dog bowl, but you’ll love it all the same.
And don’t worry, these tours are pup-friendly—just bring your leash and good manners (no barking at squirrels, I’ve learned).
🐾 Is Nantahala National Forest worth visiting?
Absolutely—and that’s not just the kibble talking. As the largest of North Carolina’s national forests, it offers oodles of natural beauty and tranquility. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a waterfall chaser or just here to breathe in the crisp mountain air, it’s a tail-wagging experience you won’t want to miss.
Highland Excursion even offers an adventure for the young pups in your life. Take the young’uns to a Kids Adventure Tour where you can explore the Nantahala Rainforest and end your trek at Jackson Hole Gem Mine. While you’re digging up crystals, I might find a hole to bury a bone!
Plus, it’s just a short scenic drive from your suite at The Park on Main, where you can return after a day of adventure to plush bedding (for you and me!), warm baths and maybe even a belly rub or two.
🐾 Is Nantahala National Forest a rainforest?
Surprisingly, yes—in a way! While it’s not a tropical rainforest (no toucans here), parts of the Nantahala are classified as temperate rainforests. That means you’ll often find lush, mossy woods, misty mornings and an abundance of biodiversity. It’s like nature’s spa day—minus the cucumber eye masks.
Boundless opportunities to explore the Nantahala Rainforest await on the Ellicott Wilderness Tour. Your Highland Excursion guide will take you through a dog-one exhilarating tour touching three U.S. states and the Chattooga River. Pack your raincoat (or doggy poncho, if you’re fancy like me) just in case, ’cause a little drizzle adds to the enchantment.
🐾 What does “Nantahala” mean in Cherokee?
Here’s where it gets poetic, my friend. “Nantahala” is a Cherokee word meaning “Land of the Noonday Sun.” The name comes from the way sunlight only reaches the valley floors when the sun is high above—talk about dramatic lighting! It’s a name steeped in culture, history and a deep respect for the land.
Every time I trot through those trails, I feel a sense of something ancient and awe-inspiring… also, squirrels.
So yes, Nantahala National Forest is more than worth a visit—it’s a tail-thumping treasure just waiting to be explored. And after a full day in the wild, your luxury suite at The Park on Main Hotel (and yours truly) will be here to welcome you home with open paws.
Until next time—stay curious, stay classy and always follow the scent of adventure.
Warm woofs,
Mr. Pickles
Your Highlands Blog Dog 🐾