30 Best Things to Do in Highlands, NC

Highlands packs a lot into a small area. Most of this list is within 20 minutes of downtown, and the first nine items need no car at all. Drive times are from downtown Highlands. Each item links to a deeper guide when you are ready to plan.

In town, on foot

1. Walk Main Street. Galleries, outfitters, home stores, jewelers and kitchen shops line Main, with more on Spring Street, Fourth Street and Carolina Way. USA TODAY 10Best readers named Highlands the Best Small Town for Shopping in 2023.

2. See a show at The Bascom. The town’s visual arts center on Franklin Road has three galleries with free admission, a ceramics studio in a rebuilt barn and an 87-foot covered bridge at the entrance. Kids like the short nature and sculpture trail. More in arts and culture.

3. Watch the sunset from Sunset Rock. A short, easy walk from the end of Main Street leads to a rock outcrop looking west over town. Go an hour before sunset and bring a flashlight for the walk down. See best hikes.

4. Wander the Highlands Botanical Garden. Run by the Highlands Biological Station, the garden is free and open year-round from dawn to dusk, with marked paths through native plants. The station’s Nature Center is listed as temporarily closed, so check before you plan around it.

5. Walk the Highlands Plateau Greenway. More than 10 miles of trails and sidewalks link parks and historic sites around town. Start at the trailhead on Oak Street between Second and Third.

6. Climb Satulah Mountain. From downtown, head up Fourth Street onto Satulah Road, then follow an old roadbed about half a mile to a 4,543-foot summit with a 270-degree view to the south, east and west.

7. Tour the Historic Village. The Highlands Historical Society’s village on North Fourth Street includes the 1877 Prince House, the oldest house in town. It is open May through October.

8. Catch a performance at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Mountain Theatre Company is the resident professional theater here, and the center shows Met Opera and National Theatre broadcasts in the cooler months. Check the current schedule. See arts and culture.

9. Book a long dinner. Highlands has far more good restaurants than a town its size should. Reserve ahead on weekends and in October. Start with where to eat.

Waterfalls

10. Walk behind Bridal Veil Falls. About 5 minutes west on US 64, this 45-foot fall pours over an old roadbed that is now open to walkers only. At low flow you stay dry behind it. The rock is slick, so watch kids closely. See waterfalls.

11. Stand behind Dry Falls. About 10 minutes west, a short paved path and an accessible viewing platform lead to a 75-foot fall you can walk behind. There is no fee, but expect to wait for parking on busy weekends.

12. Hike to Glen Falls. About 10 minutes south off NC 106, this triple fall drops about 70, 60 and 15 feet. The round trip is about 2 miles, and the climb back out is steep.

13. See Whitewater Falls. About 45 minutes east past Cashiers, the Forest Service lists the upper fall at 411 feet. A short trail leads to an overlook, and a steeper path continues down toward the river.

14. Drive the Cullasaja Gorge. US 64 west toward Franklin follows the Cullasaja River past several falls on a narrow, curving road. Let the driver drive and use the pullouts. See scenic drives.

Hikes and views

15. Loop Whiteside Mountain. About 15 minutes east, a 2-mile loop climbs to cliffs near the 4,930-foot summit. It is a fee area. Stay well back from the edges. See best hikes.

16. Climb Chinquapin Mountain. Starting from the Glen Falls parking area, this 3.2-mile round trip crosses streams and climbs a mile of switchbacks to a view.

17. Take on Yellow Mountain. The longest hike on this list runs 4.8 miles one way from Buck Creek Road. Plan a full day and pack plenty of water.

18. Walk the Chattooga River Loop. Near the Iron Bridge on Bull Pen Road, an almost 2-mile loop follows the Wild and Scenic Chattooga. The drive in is gravel and slow.

19. Look for the bear shadow. In late October, from about 5:30 to 6:30 pm, a mountain casts a bear-shaped shadow across the valley below Rhodes Big View Overlook on US 64. See fall foliage.

20. Stop at Blue Valley and Osage overlooks. Both are roadside pull-offs on NC 106 toward Dillard with wide views over Blue Valley and the valleys toward Georgia.

Lakes and rivers

21. Swim or picnic at Cliffside Lake. About 15 minutes west, this Forest Service area has a 0.75-mile loop around the lake, short trails to falls, picnic shelters and a swimming area. The developed area is open April 1 through October 31, with a day-use fee. See lakes.

22. Spend a day on Lake Glenville. About 25 minutes away, just north of Cashiers, this 1,470-acre lake sits at about 3,494 feet with 26 miles of shoreline. Pack a picnic for the public beach near the dam.

23. Go fly fishing. The Cullasaja River runs right through the gorge west of town, and guides lead trips across the plateau. You need a North Carolina fishing license. See fly fishing.

Family and adventure

24. Ride a zip line. Highlands Aerial Park in Scaly Mountain, about 15 to 20 minutes down NC 106, runs zip line tours and a treetop course for younger kids. Reservations are strongly recommended. See family adventures.

25. Tube and mine at Highlands Outpost. Also on NC 106 in Scaly Mountain, the Outpost offers tubing, a gem mine and trout fishing, with snow activities in winter. Check its calendar for current hours.

26. Sift for gems at Jackson Hole. About 20 minutes out, above the Cullasaja Gorge, Jackson Hole Gem Mine has a covered flume, so it works on rainy days.

27. Swim at the Recreation Park pool. The town pool at Highlands Recreation Park is open year-round. Public swim times are limited, so call ahead.

28. Raft the Nantahala. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is about an hour away, with guided and self-guided trips on the river. See day trips.

Beyond town and by season

29. Spend an afternoon in Cashiers. About 25 minutes east, Cashiers centers on the Village Green park and is the gateway to Lake Glenville and Whitewater Falls. See the Cashiers guide.

30. Time your trip to the calendar. October brings peak color. The Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 28 in 2026), Light Up the Park turns on the holiday lights at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, where the town ice rink runs from mid-November through February this season. See events by month, Christmas and winter.

Before you go

Forest Service sites close for storm repairs from time to time. Check the National Forests in North Carolina closure orders and stop at the Highlands Welcome Center at 108 Main Street for current trail and event news. For a full first-timer overview, read Highlands: everything to know before you go.