Bring Your Hiking Boots for Some Memorable Mountain Day Hikes in and Around Murphy NC

If your hiking boots and walking stick are itching for a good day hike, our region is chock full of great hiking destinations. In fact, you’ll find some beautiful wooded trails right here in Cherokee County – and one in the Murphy, NC town limits. In fact, let’s start there – after fortifying yourself with an incredible cup of liquid energy, otherwise known as coffee, and pastries at The Daily Grind.

Next, stroll over to the Murphy River Walk, with a trailhead right behind the historic L&N Depot. While you trek along two miles of shaded walking trails, enjoy the marshy wetlands, hardwood forests, and meadows. You’ll see plenty of native plants, and you might encounter some birds and small mammals. You’ll also get up-close-and-personal with the Hiwassee and Valley Rivers, which just so happen to converge right in front of you on the trail. This walk is especially refreshing on a hot summer day.

Maybe you’re up for a more adventurous hike, with lots of elevation changes and a surprise around every bend. Check out the Nantahala National Forest, criss-crossed with so many trails we’ve lost count. In fact, this forest is so large that it’s divided into three regions: the Cheoah, Nantahala, and Tusquitee Ranger Districts. Regardless of your destination, you’ll see tons of native plants, some unique to this part of the world. You might even encounter some roaring waterfalls, especially if we’ve had a few rounds of rain.

If the legendary Appalachian Trail is on your bucket list, the Nantahala National Forest contains a great AT day-hike destination: Wayah Bald near Franklin, North Carolina. If you’d prefer the easy route, enjoy a pleasant one-mile round trip from Forest Service Road 69. For a more energetic hike to Wayah Bald, take the Winding Stair Gap route, with lots of high-elevation climbing along well-graded trails. You’ll also pass several springs and campsites. Either way, you’ll end up at the historic stone fire tower, built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. On a clear day, you might see North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee – all at once. Bring the camera!

Or, maybe you’d like to take a moderate-to-difficult day hike along the beautiful Fires Creek Rim Trail, which rings the Fires Creek Wildlife Management Area. Starting near Hayesville, North Carolina, the entire Rim Trail encompasses 25 miles, but you can choose a manageable chunk that provides some spectacular ridge-top views. Fires Creek has several trails to choose from, the Rim Trail just happens to be a favorite. Besides viewing lots of native plants and birds, you could encounter deer, Russian boars, or bears – so be on your best behavior.

Of course, this snapshot barely scratches the surface of day-hike possibilities. For more detailed information, contact the United States Forest Service Station in Murphy, NC at 828-837-5152. For maps and hiking gear, visit the outdoors-savvy staff at Appalachian Outfitters on Tennessee Street in downtown Murphy. And who knows – we might see you on the trail!

The Poltrock Team – REMAX Mountain Properties – Murphy NC – www.MyMurphy.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team

Hiawassee River Front Almost 10 Acres of Land for Sale in Hayesville NC

This is practically impossible to find land for sale! It’s 9.56+/- acres between Murphy NC and Hayesville NC. Located in the Fires Creek area, it’s in a favorite location of Clay County! This property boasts almost a football field of Hiawassee River Frontage! With 278+/- feet of frontage, you can truly enjoy all the fishing a rushing water you can stand! 😀

The flat frontage on the Hiawassee River is beautiful and all the rest of the land is gentle and easily buildable. It’s not located in a subdivision and is totally unrestricted! Where else can you find that!? If this is what you are looking for, act fast and check it out!

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The Poltrock Team – REMAX Real Estate – www.MyMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team – Call Us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496

What is the difference between a Branch, Stream, Creek, Crick, and a River in Murphy NC?

Water – it’s one of the most desirable features of any piece of real estate. It’s not hard to get used to the gorgeous, burbling splash of water rushing through a creek – but that leaves a question. Internet pictures of land and homes for sale can be so deceiving. It can look like a river on the computer to find out someone had a garden hose upstream and a camera with a close zoom – disappointing! So when you get to Murphy, NC, here’s what terms you can expect to hear on running water.

What is a Branch?

A branch is a local term used to describe a very small water feature. It’s like a creek or a stream – only much smaller. In most cases, you’ll find it to be only a few inches wide – often less than 6 inches. This term doesn’t give you any guidance as to the volume of water flowing through it – I’ve seen some that have water screaming through it!

What is a Stream?

A stream is slightly larger than a branch and can still often be called a creek by folks. Technically, if it is less than 60 feet wide, it can be called a stream. However, most of the time people call smaller flowing water streams.

What is a Creek?

This is what you get when you live in the mountains of NC!
This is what you get when you live in the mountains of NC!

Creeks are one of my favorite water features here in Murphy, NC. There’s such a wide range of what’s available. We have many creeks that are home to native and stocked trout. That’s good fishing! 🙂 They also vary in size – some are very big and rival the size of rivers while others are just barely big enough to where you could jump over them.

Some of the most reputable and largest creeks here are Hanging Dog Creek, Fires Creek, Owl Creek, Shoal Creek, and several others.

What is a Crick?

Think localism for the word creek.

What is a River?

Most folks know what a river is. Rivers are designated bodies of water and there are three of the them in Cherokee County, NC – the Hiawassee River, Nottley River, and Valley River. All of them are gorgeous bodies of water with the Hiawassee being the largest of the three. You can find many fish in all of them – including trout!

Are you looking for water front property in Western North Carolina?

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The Poltrock Team – RE/MAX Mountain Properties – www.MyMurphy.comJohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call us Toll Free 1-866-687-7496