Visit Haywood
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Visit Haywood
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Visit Haywood
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Welcome Center

91 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
(828) 944-0761
Monday – Saturday, 9AM – 5PM
  • Things to Do
    • Attractions
    • Outdoors
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    Things to Do
    • Attractions
    • Outdoors
    • Arts & Culture
    • Shopping
    • Farm & Food Experiences
    • Family Fun
    • Online Store
    • Blog
  • Eat & Drink
    • Restaurants
    • Beer, Wine & Spirits
    • Farm to Table
    • Cafes & Bakeries
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    Eat & Drink
    • Restaurants
    • Beer, Wine & Spirits
    • Farm to Table
    • Cafes & Bakeries
    • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Places to Stay
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins, Cottages & Vacation Rentals
    • Resorts
    • Hotels & Motels
    • RV Parks & Campgrounds
    Places to Stay
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins, Cottages & Vacation Rentals
    • Resorts
    • Hotels & Motels
    • RV Parks & Campgrounds
  • Events
    • Ice Festival
    • Fat Burger Month
    • Labor Day Festival
    • Apple Festival
    • Christmas
    • Submit an Event
    Events
    • Ice Festival
    • Fat Burger Month
    • Labor Day Festival
    • Apple Festival
    • Christmas
    • Submit an Event
  • National Parks
    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    • Blue Ridge Parkway
    • Pisgah National Forest
    • Cataloochee Valley
    National Parks
    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    • Blue Ridge Parkway
    • Pisgah National Forest
    • Cataloochee Valley
  • Mountain Towns
    • Canton
    • Clyde
    • Lake Junaluska
    • Maggie Valley
    • Waynesville
    Mountain Towns
    • Canton
    • Clyde
    • Lake Junaluska
    • Maggie Valley
    • Waynesville
  • Plan Your Trip
    • Welcome Center
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    Plan Your Trip
    • Welcome Center
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mountain with river
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© 2026 Haywood County Tourism Development Authority

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VISIT HAYWOOD COUNTY NC

Catch your breath

before it’s taken away

Kayaking in Lake Junaluska

You’re off the clock in Haywood County

Where the North Carolina Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge Parkway. Uncover soaring mountains, five friendly towns, and views that do all the bragging for us.

Great Smoky Mountains
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Blue Ridge Parkway
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Western North Carolina by season

Plan Your Trip
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winter
Cataloochee Ski Area
Cataloochee Ski Area
Maggie ValleyOutdoors
Maggie Valley
Unwind in winter in Haywood County

Ski the slopes at Cataloochee, sip something warm, and enjoy mountain calm without the crowds.

Plan Your Winter Trip
Hiking in spring in Haywood
spring
Explore springtime in Haywood County

Glide into spring with mild hiking trails, scenic drives, and first sips of patio season.

Plan Your Spring Trip
People jumping from a rock in Sunburst Swimming Hole in Haywood
summer
Sunburst Swimming Hole
Sunburst Swimming Hole
CantonAttractions
Canton
Experience summer in Haywood County

Beat the heat at higher altitudes, wander our towns, and soak up long, golden evenings.

Plan Your Summer Trip
A girl hiking during Fall in Haywood
fall
Fall for Haywood County, North Carolina

Leaf-peeping, harvest flavors, and perfect sweater weather. Autumn in Haywood is magic.

Plan Your Fall Trip
People swimming by the falls at Bubbling Spring Branch Cascades in Haywood

Explore things to do in Haywood

Start your Appalachian adventure in Haywood County, where you’ll experience authentic mountain charm, outdoor thrills, and family-friendly activities.

See All Things to DoSee Visitor’s Guide

Select a season to personalize your site experience

Lake Junaluska Outfitters
Lake Junaluska Outfitters
Rent a canoe, paddleboard or kayak
Shelton House History, Heritage & Crafts
Shelton House History, Heritage & Crafts
Tour through Haywood’s history
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Cold Mountain Tubing
Float down the Pigeon River
The Ten Acre Garden
The Ten Acre Garden
You-pick berries and flowers
Bubbling Spring Branch Cascades
Bubbling Spring Branch Cascades
CantonModerate
Canton
Map of Haywood County, North Carolina

Find your way to Haywood County NC

Set in the Great Smoky Mountains and only 30 minutes west of Asheville, Haywood is where the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks quiet trails, and five friendly mountain towns all come together.

How to Get Here
Map of North Carolina
Suite in Cataloochee Ranch in Haywood
Glamping Collective lodging in Haywood
Elk & Embers lodging in Haywood
The Swag lodging in Haywood

Find places to stay that crank the charm

From cozy mountain cabins to boutique inns in our friendly Smoky Mountain towns, Haywood is full of stays that bring the charm.

See All Places to Stay
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Cataloochee Ranch
Cataloochee Ranch
Maggie ValleyResorts
Maggie Valley
Vacasa Vacation Rentals
Vacasa Vacation Rentals
Lake JunaluskaCabins, Cottages & Vacation Rentals
Lake Junaluska
Boyd Mountain Log Cabins
Boyd Mountain Log Cabins
WaynesvilleCabins, Cottages & Vacation Rentals
Waynesville
The Swag
The Swag
WaynesvilleBed & Breakfasts
Waynesville
Delicious dessert at Switchback at Cataloochee Ranch in Haywood
Delicious food at the Red Fox in Haywood
Delicious pizza at Ten Acre Garden in Haywood
Delicious cupcakes at Sunshine and Sugar Bakeshop in Haywood

Explore places to eat in the NC mountains

In the heart of the Western North Carolina mountains, Haywood’s five small towns serve up a food scene that’s as comforting as it is creative.

See All Places to Eat
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Switchback at Cataloochee Ranch
Switchback at Cataloochee Ranch
Maggie ValleyRestaurants
Maggie Valley
The Red Fox
The Red Fox
WaynesvilleRestaurants
Waynesville
Singletree Heritage Kitchen
Singletree Heritage Kitchen
WaynesvilleRestaurants
Waynesville
Grateful Table Cafe & Provisions
Grateful Table Cafe & Provisions
CantonRestaurants
Canton
Upcoming Events
  • Don’t Be Square: Art Beyond Right Angles - Art Exhibit
    Aug 26 → Aug 31
    Don’t Be Square: Art Beyond Right Angles - Art Exhibit
    WaynesvilleArts & Culture
    Waynesville

    Haywood Handmade Gallery's "Don't Be Square" exhibit invites artists and viewers alike to think outside the box—literally! This exhibit celebrates creativity on canvas with a twist: not a single right angle in sight. From curves and circles to wild, unexpected edges, each piece challenges the traditional square or rectangular frame. Discover how artists bend, shape, and reshape the boundaries of canvas art in this joyful exploration of form and imagination. Pictured work is by Randy Rayl.

    Get details
  • Paint & Sip @ BearWaters Brewing Riverside
    Aug 27 → Dec 17
    Paint & Sip @ BearWaters Brewing Riverside
    CantonShopping & Markets
    Canton

    Join a fun, beginner-friendly paint & sip experience at BearWaters Brewing in Canton, right along the Pigeon River! These weeknight painting events are designed for adults 21+ who want to unwind, get creative, and let go. Each event runs from 6:00–8:00 pm and features step-by-step instruction starting from a blank canvas. Each month features a new painting. No experience is needed — everyone will leave with a finished painting to be proud of. Drinks are available for purchase from BearWaters’ selection of local craft beverages.

    Get details
  • Mill Town Farmers Market
    Aug 27 → Oct 29
    Mill Town Farmers Market
    CantonOutdoors & Sports
    Canton

    Held Thursdays from 4pm-7pm at the Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton, the Mill Town Farmers Market celebrates Haywood County’s local farmers and artisans. Browse handcrafted wood carvings, metal work, and pottery to spruce up your living space, pamper yourself with botanical skincare and perfumes, and stock your pantry with locally grown produce, farm-fresh dairy, homemade jams, baked goods, and much more! Enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, and sip on a fresh lemonade while you browse.

    Get details
  • The Savannah Sipping Society - Live in Theatre
    Aug 27 → Aug 30
    The Savannah Sipping Society - Live in Theatre
    WaynesvilleArts & Culture
    Waynesville

    Pull up a chair, pour a drink, and spend an evening on the porch with 'The Savannah Sipping Society,' HART Theatre's latest production. Set on a picturesque veranda in Savannah, Georgia, this warm and witty comedy follows four Southern women who meet at their lives' inflection points. 'The Savannah Sipping Society bends sharp Southern humor with a heartfelt look a friendship, resilience, and starting over. Book your seat today at the linked page!

    Get details
  • Mill Around Town
    Aug 28 → Nov 27
    Mill Around Town
    Canton
    Canton

    Set in Haywood's historic mill town, the monthly Mill Around Town event sees downtown Canton come alive with an extended evening of shopping, dining, deals, and entertainment. On the final Friday of each month, "mill" around to the record store, pottery studio, fly fishing shop, cafe, trendy boutique, bookshop, dark-academia flower shop, and more against a backdrop of live music and fun activities. Mill Around Town is free to attend, but supporting local businesses with purchases is encouraged.

    Get details

HAYWOOD EVENTS

Events bring Haywood culture to life

Experience festivals, live music, craft traditions, and seasonal celebrations that showcase real Appalachian mountain culture.

Discover Upcoming Events
What shines in this
corner of Appalachia

What shines in this
corner of Appalachia

About Haywood County
View of the Great Smoky Mountains in Haywood
Sunrise at Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood
Richland Balsam Overlook
Richland Balsam Overlook
CantonAttractions
Canton
Aerial view of a mountain town in Haywood
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds
Maggie ValleyEvent & Meeting Venues
Maggie Valley
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Elk & Embers
Elk & Embers
WaynesvilleCabins, Cottages & Vacation Rentals
Waynesville

Get in on mountain secrets

Mountains might be quiet, but our newsletters aren’t. Sign up to get all the latest news about what’s happening in Haywood.

VISIT HAYWOOD BLOG

Activities on mountain time

See All Blog Posts
Ultimate Guide to the Ice Block Party in Downtown Waynesville
Arts & CultureUltimate Guide to the Ice Block Party in Downtown Waynesville
A Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend Guide: 4 Days of Winter Fun in the Smoky Mountains
Seasonal EventsA Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend Guide: 4 Days of Winter Fun in the Smoky Mountains
Start the New Year Right with Outdoor Adventures & Wellness in the NC Mountains
OutdoorsStart the New Year Right with Outdoor Adventures & Wellness in the NC Mountains

Leave your heart in Haywood North Carolina

A couple kayaking in Lake Junaluska in Haywood
Outdoor Activities
National Parks
National Parks
Plan Your Trip in Haywood
Plan Your Trip