Fontana, Robbinsville, and Lake Santeetlah Edition
This is part four of a five part series that will help stretch those vacation dollars a little further by exploring fun free things to do in the Smokies of North Carolina.- Part one – Waynesville, Maggie Valley, and Sylva Edition
- Part two – Bryson City Edition
- Part three – Franklin & Highlands Edition
- Part four – Fontana, Robbinsville, and Lake Santeetlah Edition
- Part five – Pisgah Forest and Cherokee Edition
Fun Free Things To Do At Lake Santeetlah
There are small towns and then there are downright diminutive towns. As of the 2010 census, the year-round population of the Town of Santeetlah was 43. When the “snowbirds” from Georgia and Florida come to the cooler mountains for the summer, the population surges to about 200. What they and every other visitor comes for is crystalline Lake Santeetlah. Bring your boat, kayak, or paddleboard and begin your exploration of the 76 miles of coastline. The area is known for its unparalleled fishing of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bream, and lake trout. While not free you an rent a boat from Santeetlah Marina Pitch your tent at one of the 50 primitive campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, and take a swim. Or pull on your hiking boots and head out on the 200 miles of hiking trails in the surrounding Nantahala National Forest. The perfect day hike leads you about 8 miles from the lake to the Appalachian Trail.Yellow Creek Falls
A shorter but equally peaceful hike is just 12 miles up the road to Yellow Creek Falls. Trek an easy, .33-mile trail to reach a gorgeous 70-foot-tall waterfall. You can swim here, but exercise caution in the summer months when water levels can rise with the thunderstorms.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Joyce Kilmer was both an American soldier and poet. He was recognized for his bravery in WWI where he was killed by a German sniper in 1918. But his revered poem “Trees” lives on and is considered a masterpiece that begins “I think I will never see a poem as lovely as a tree.” The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, part of the Nantahala National Forest, stands as a monument to him. The US Forest Service protects these pristine 3,800 square miles from logging and development. Hike the easy, 2-mile round-trip loop trail through striking hardwoods and a grove of colossal Yellow Poplars, standing 100 feet tall and 20 feet around.Fontana Dam
It’s time to hop in the car and take the scenic drive to the Fontana Dam, about 25 miles from Lake Santeetlah. This Tennessee Valley Authority project is an engineering feat at 480 feet high and 2,365 feet spanning the roaring Tennessee River. Learn the history of the dam through a fascinating display at the Visitor Center (open May to October) and purchase some memorable souvenirs.Tail of the Dragon – A Fun Free Thing To Do
So now that you’ve braved the highest heights, are you ready to brave the driving challenge of your lifetime? Car and motorcycle enthusiasts flock from all over the world to challenge their driving skills on US Rte129, also known as the Tail of the Dragon. You too can “ride the dragon” with its 318 curves in just 11 miles of roadway with no intersecting roads to slow you down. This is not for the faint of heart or sufferers of motion sickness!