5 Best Hiking Trails Near Sylva, North Carolina – My Hometown
Updated: 04/04/2025 • Bernie Gilchrist
There’s an old saying around these parts: the best way to understand a place is to put your boots on the ground and take a walk through it. A walk-about as it’s known downunder. And let me tell you, when that ground happens to be the rugged, mist-laced trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’re not just walking—you’re stepping into a story older than the hills themselves.
I’ve spent the better part of my life here in Sylva, North Carolina, and if there’s one thing I can say with absolute certainty, it’s that these mountains hold magic. Not the kind conjured up in fairy tales, but the real kind—the kind that seeps into your bones when you stand atop a peak at sunrise, or when the wind whispers through rhododendron tunnels, or when the scent of damp earth and pine needles reminds you just how small and mighty you really are.
As I often tell those who cross my path, "Up here, it’s another world." And the moment you step out of your car and onto the winding trails of these ancient mountains, you’ll feel it—the whisper of time, the spell of the wild, the undeniable enchantment that lingers in the mist and moss-covered stones.
As a local realtor, I help people find their forever home in these mountains, but today, let’s set that aside. Today, I’m your trail guide, ready to lead you through five of my favorite hikes near Sylva. Lace up, take a deep breath, and let’s go find where the wild things are.
1. Black Balsam Knob – The Crown Jewel of the Parkway
If you’ve ever dreamed of standing on top of the world, Black Balsam Knob is where you go to make it happen. Just off the famed Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile Marker 420.2, this moderate hike delivers you straight into an enchanted realm where rolling grassy balds replace dense forests, offering some of the most jaw-dropping, 360-degree views in the Blue Ridge.
Pack a picnic (maybe even something a little stronger than sweet tea), bring your camera, and let the horizon remind you why people have been falling in love with these mountains for centuries. If you’re feeling ambitious, keep wandering—it’s part of the famed Art Loeb Trail, and trust me, the journey’s as mesmerizing as the destination.
Trailhead Directions: From Sylva, take the Smoky Mountain Expressway toward Waynesville and hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading north. Look for the Black Balsam sign and turn left—parking’s about 7/10ths of a mile in. In winter, be sure to check for road closures.
2. Panthertown Valley – The Yosemite of the East
My other place of solitude is the world-renowned wilderness known as Panthertown Valley. This is the largest pristine wilderness left on the entire eastern seaboard, a vast and untamed sanctuary where time stands still. Here, ancient granite domes rise like sentinels of the past, 200-year-old trees whisper their secrets in the wind, and delicate, 500-year-old lichen clings to the landscape like nature’s own brushstrokes on a masterpiece. It’s easy to see why it’s known as the Yosemite of the east coast. Every step through this enchanted valley is a journey through history and wonder.
The valley contains a network of hiking trails that travel to a variety of popular destinations within this 6,700-acre tract of high-elevation Forest Service land. At least eight major waterfalls and countless smaller ones lie along the area's streams. You'll also find hikes that take you to cliff-top views of the surrounding mountains, or to sandy beaches on deep, clear swimming holes. Bring a picnic to your favorite hangout spot on one of these beaches, or perhaps to a cliff-top view where you can supplement it with a handful of wild blueberries. All this is available on the trails of Panthertown!
Rare, high-altitude mountain bogs lie along the streams in places, where fallen leaves steep in the water for days before it finally trickles into the streams, staining the otherwise crystal-clear pools like tea. Extremely rare plants grow both in the bogs and on top of the granite domes - environmental extremes, to say the least.
Forests in the area are varied and contain a high concentration of mountain laurel and rhododendron thickets near the water. This isn't really unusual for Western North Carolina, but the "laurel hells" here can be exceptionally thick!
There are several trails to choose from, and they are all worth your exploration and discovery. Check out this map and know the difficulty of the hike before heading out: https://www.panthertownmap.com/
Panthertown is one of the most magical hikes you’ll ever encounter.
Trailhead Directions: Detailed maps and directions can be found at panthertownmap.com. Trust me, you’ll want one.
3. Horsepasture River – The Land of Waterfalls
Let’s be honest: nothing quite stirs the soul like the roar of a waterfall. And if that’s your kind of poetry, the Horsepasture River hike at Gorges State Park is your personal sonnet. Located just off Highway 64 in Sapphire, NC, this trek leads you to some of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the region, including the iconic Rainbow Falls—a staggering 150-foot spectacle of nature’s raw power.
This park, located in the Blue Ridge Escarpment, spans over 8,000 acres of temperate rainforest and hosts extraordinary biodiversity. There are many rare aquatic plants and flowers that only live here in this region and are not found anywhere else on earth. With 26 waterfalls scattered across its rugged terrain, this place is a cathedral of cascading water, where every turn in the trail reveals another hidden gem carved by time itself. The park features the northern boundary of Lake Jocassee and a portion of the 70-mile Foothills Trail. I love just sitting under Rainbow Falls and soaking up its spray, gazing out onto some of the most unusual rock formations found anywhere in Western North Carolina. The rocks in the river seem like another world. I imagine Captain Kirk and Spock rising over the horizon in search of intelligent life. LOL, good luck finding any here. I think you’ll see what I am talking about once you make the trek.
Turtleback Falls, just upstream, is where the adventurous come to slide down smooth rock into a crisp mountain pool. If you’re lucky, you might catch a bald eagle cruising the air currents above—just another reminder that life up here moves at a different rhythm.
Trailhead Directions: Set your GPS to 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, NC 28774, and let the adventure begin.
4. Pinnacle Park – Where the Climb is Worth It
Some hikes are a stroll. Pinnacle Park is not one of them. This is a grit-and-grind kind of trail, climbing 3,000 feet in elevation over 3.4 miles to reach a summit that will make every aching muscle worth it.
But the payoff? Oh, my friend—it’s rich. From the top, you’ll have panoramic views stretching across Jackson County, with Sylva nestled in the valley below like a scene from a postcard. If you want to feel like a true mountaineer, this is the hike to prove you’ve got what it takes.
Trailhead Directions: Just plug ‘Pinnacle Park’ into your GPS or visit mapquest.com. You won’t regret it.
5. Waterrock Knob – A Hiker’s Stairway to Heaven
If there’s a place where the sky and the earth shake hands, it’s Waterrock Knob. Sitting pretty at 6,292 feet, this peak is one of the highest in the Eastern United States and boasts some of the best sunrise and sunset views you’ll ever lay eyes on.
The hike itself is short but steep—just 1.2 miles round trip—making it perfect for those who want their dose of adventure without an all-day commitment. Plus, thanks to almost zero light pollution, it’s one of the best spots in the region for stargazing. On a clear night, you might just catch a glimpse of the Milky Way stretching across the heavens.
Trailhead Directions: From Sylva, take the Smoky Mountain Expressway toward Waynesville and hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway south. Drive to Mile Marker 451.2, where you’ll find the highest-elevation Visitors Center on the Parkway.
Final Thoughts
These mountains have a way of calling people home. Whether you’re here for a weekend adventure or looking for a place to plant your roots, Sylva and its surrounding trails are ready to welcome you with open arms. If you find yourself falling in love with this land (and I suspect you will), I’d be honored to help you find a place to call your own.
So, lace up those boots and get to exploring—and if the mountains whisper to you the way they did to me, you know where to find me.
For more local hiking recommendations and real estate expertise, visit: BernieGilchrist.com
